FC Halifax Town twice battled back from a goal down to claim a hard-fought point as they drew 2-2 at Southend.

Promoise Omochere's penalty was cancelled out by Amari Morgan-Smith, before Mackenzie Maltby's own goal was equalised by Tayt Trusty as The Shaymen earned their first point at Roots Hall in seven visits.

Southend looked the more impressive before their goal, with ex-Town loanee Ash Palmer seeing an effort at a free-kick kept out by True Grant at point blank range.

Then a shot by Josh Popoola was also saved by Grant, with the hosts much more fluid.

There couldn't be much argument when they took the lead after a clumsy tackle by Shaun Hobson in the box, with Omochere converting from the spot.

Town, who deployed the same narrow midfield used against Hartlepool and Aldershot, were better off-the-ball than on it.

What they gained in midfield ballast, they lost in creativity and width, wasting possession too often and running into cul-de-sacs.

Halifax needed more from Conor Carty and Morgan-Smith, and they obliged after good work down the left between Raheem Conte and Will Hugill; with Conte's cross met by Carty, whose effort was kept out, but Morgan-Smith turned in the rebound.

Town grew in confidence after equalising, coming into the game more, with Southend going off the boil at bit.

Both sides were afflicted by sloppiness in possession after the restart.

You couldn't fault Town for effort or application, matching Southend stride for stride and nullifying them effectively, but they couldn't really add any creativity on top.

Carty might have done better midway through the half when he latched onto a hopeful long ball, with Joe Duncan making a fairly routine save.

Grant then produced an excellent save to tip over substitute Sahid Kamara's blistering effort from 20 yards.

Grant also kept out Omochere's shot one-on-one, but all Town's hard work was cruelly undone when it hit substitute Maltby and bobbled over the line.

But The Shaymen didn't let their heads drop, and equalised again when the ball fell for Trusty inside the box and he finished calmly into the bottom corner, with Southend fuming that substitute Ben Goodliffe wasn't allowed to come on because it had taken too long.

Southend: Duncan, Daley-Campbell, Cox, Palmer, McAdam, Hartigan, Coker, Omochere (Goodliffe 87), Chambers-Parillon, Popoola, Massiah-Edwards (Kamara 64). Subs not used: Sims, Twamley, Keogh, Richards.

Scorer: Omochere (pen 23) Maltby (own goal 85)

Attempts on target: 6

Attempts off target: 6

Corners: 6

Halifax: Grant, Bardell (Maltby 72), Flint, Hobson, Conte (Hill 46), C Johnson, Trusty, Hugill (Gilsenan 81), C Allen (Douglas 63), Morgan-Smith (Tollitt 81), Carty. Subs not used: Mathers, McDermott.

Scorers: Morgan-Smith (32), Trsuty (90)

Attempts on target: 2

Attempts off target: 4

Corners: 3

Referee: Isaac Searle

Attendance: 8,044 (81 away)

Town man of the match: I'll give it to Will Flint, who defended very well throughout.