Southend United are running the rule over trainee West Ham striker Amos Foyewa, who played the full 90 minutes of yesterday's (Wednesday's) Roots Hall reserve team draw with Bristol Rovers.

But despite demonstrating a lightning turn of pace and some nice touches, 19-year-old Foyewa was unable to prove his prowess in the opposition box as Blues struggled to create many goalscoring opportunities.

"West Ham are letting Amos go so we decided to get him in so we could have a good look at him," said Shrimpers boss David Webb.

"He has missed a lot of his time at Upton Park because he has been sidelined by a knee injury for the last year.

"But Amos has been training with us this week and I thought he showed a bit of life for the reserves. He certainly has bags of pace."

Rovers lit up a dour clash after 22 minutes, when giant centre-forward Justin Richards beat the Southend offside trap and pulled back a low cross from the right-wing, which midfielder Mark Foran converted from six yards.

Blues' best chance of a first-half equaliser fell to David Lee, who lifted a shot over Pirates goalkeeper Alex O'Reilly, but the frontman's well executed effort hit the face of the left-post.

After the break, young Shrimpers custodian Jamie Fisher was forced to scramble off his line on a couple of occasions to deny Rovers striker Clinton Ellis and his front partner Richards.

Both sides huffed and puffed without providing much in the way of entertainment, but Southend got themselves on level terms in spectacular fashion with just 60 seconds remaining.

Lee switched the ball to wideman Danny Pitts, whose right-wing centre was crisply volleyed past O'Reilly at the far-post by midfielder Leon Hunter from eight-yards.

One notable absentee from the Blues line-up was striker Neil Tolson, who is still recovering from a pelvic injury.

Southend: Fisher, Thurgood, Wardley, Newman, D Lunan, Hunter, Pitts, Edwards, Foyewa, Lee, Kerrigan.

This was Blues' last home fixture of the season in the Avon Insurance Combination League and they complete their second-string programme at Swindon Town next Thursday, kick-off 2pm.

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