Forest Green Rovers were held to a 2-2 draw in an entertaining encounter against Southend United at The New Lawn.

On his 1000th game in management, Steve Cotterill made two changes from the side that defeated Sutton United on Tuesday night.

Brandon Fleming and Harry Cardwell came in to the starting XI in place of Tom Knowles and Christian Doidge, with Cian Harries and Kyle McAllister both returning to the bench.

After a cagey opening 20 minutes, Rovers broke the deadlock just before the halfway point of the first period.

A teasing delivery by Adam May found the head of Ryan Inniss who guided the ball into the top corner past Nick Hayes in the Southend goal.

The lead just lasted four minutes as the Shrimpers equalised when the ball fell kindly to striker Macauley Bonne who fired past Fabian Mrozek and into the bottom corner.

Rovers re-took the lead on the half-hour mark when striker Harry Cardwell released Jordon Garrick in-behind who, with one boot on, slid the ball underneath Hayes and into the back of the net.

The visitors almost drew level once more when Bonne’s long-ranged effort forced a superb finger-tip save from Mrozek.

The away side created an opening when James Morton delivered a dangerous cross which found the involved Bonne at the back post but he failed to find the target.

Mrozek was again called into action when he gathered in a Tom Hopper strike after Bonne’s cross found him inside the penalty area.

The Shrimpers would draw level for the second time in the match in the 75th minute when the ball was worked out to substitute Charley Kendall who teed up right back Gus Scott-Morris to find the bottom corner.

Shortly after, a deep cross by Manuel Osadebe found Brandon Fleming at the back post but he could not generate the power to test Hayes.

Rovers thought they had secured all three points deep in stoppage time when substitute Christian Doidge fired the ball home but Joe Quigley was adjudged to have been offside in the build-up.

Referee Sam Mulhall would bring an end to the proceedings and the points would be shared for the second time this season between the two sides.

The result sees Rovers remain third in the National League table and they will be back in action next Saturday as they travel to AFC Fylde.

FGR Starting XI: Mrozek, Osadebe, Inniss, Tozer ©, Robson, May, Sercombe, McCann, Garrick, Cardwell, Fleming

Used-Subs: Harries, Quigley, Bunker, Doidge & McAllister

Un-used Subs: Long & Knowles

Attendance: 2,251 (531 Away)