Gillingham 0, Southend United 0 SOUTHEND United played out their second goalless draw in less than a month against Gillingham last night.

The two teams failed to score when they met in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy at Roots Hall in late August.

And they again both drew a blank at the Priestfield Stadium during another closely fought clash.

Southend slightly edged the first half, but Gills saw more of the ball after the break and forced goalkeeper Glenn Morris into some fine saves.

Early on it was the long throws of Jack Payne which were causing Southend problems.

And, from one of those in the sixth minute, the home-side almost took the lead, but a spectacular overhead kick from Cody McDonald was smartly saved low to his right hand side by Southend goalkeeper Morris.

But Southend, who made one change to their starting line-up, with Louie Soares replacing Ryan Hall on the left flank, came close themselves in the 11th minute, when a deflected free-kick from Anthony Grant rolled in to the path of Barry Corr, but the Irish striker could only divert the ball wide of the left post.

Moments later, Grant fired straight at Gills shot-stopper Lance Cronin from 20 yards and, in the 20th minute, the visitors wasted an even clearer opportunity to score when Soares failed to connect with a fine right wing cross from Blair Sturrock, despite being ahead of his defender at the back post six yards from goal.

Soares then saw a left footed volley fly wide of the left post from the edge of the penalty area and, another chance went begging in the 37th minute, when Sturrock sent Josh Simpson sprinting through.

The right winger advanced into the penalty area, but when confronted by Cronin he went for power not precision and blasted a 14-yard shot over the crossbar.

Gillingham hit back on the stroke of half-time with Bruce Inkango sending a well struck 20-yard shot flying inches over the crossbar, but at the start of the second period it was Southend pushing forward, with Corr firing into Cronin’s gloves from the edge of the penalty area.

Simpson then fired shot straight at Cronin from a similar distance, but Gills replied with two effort from McDonald which flew just past Morris’s goal.

The Blues keeper then smothered a deflected drive from Inkango before he easily kept out a curling effort from Bayo Akinfenwa in the 64th minute.

Four minutes later, Southend boss Paul Sturrock made his first change of the evening with Ryan Hall replacing Sturrock in attack.

But, it was Gillingham who remained on top, with Akinfenwa shooting just wide of the right post from 20 yards Weston then saw a close range effort bravely blocked by the advancing Morris and, in the 74th minute, the Blues keeper did well to push a long range drive from left-back Chris Palmer around the right post.

Southend were then forced in to their second change of the injured with Nathaniel Jarvis replacing the injured Grant and, in the 81st minute, the on loan Cardiff forward wasted a golden chance.

The teenager neatly collected a fine through ball from Hall, but was denied by the legs of Cronin and, in injury time, Corr volleyed wide of the left post.

The striker then curled a 25-yard shot just past the right post, meaning the game again ended goalless.

Southend United (4-4-2): Morris, Clohessy, Mohsni, Barker, Gilbert, Simpson, Timlin, Grant (Jarvis 75), Soares, Corr, Sturrock (Hall 68) Subs not used: Coughlan, Prosser, Herd, Crawford & Evans Gillingham (4-4-2): Cronin, Fuller, Gowling, Lawrence, Palmer, Inkango (Rooney 68), Weston, J Payne, Spiller, Akinfenwa, McDonald.

Subs not used: Julian, Maher, Bentley, Payne, Sinclair & Aborah Attendance: 4, 925 Referee: Danny McDermid (Hampshire )