After entertaining first half, Harry Talbot gave the Rovers the lead midway through second half and the Rpvers were looked to pull off a surprising win but the playoff contenders piled the pressure late on and snatched a draw as Chaka Barnett netted late on.

Rovers came into the fixture in good form, winning back-to-back games. Barking meanwhile continue in the quest for the playoffs having had a fine 6-1 win over West Essex on Saturday.

Rovers have had a torrid time this season with injuries this season and had to call in Robert Budd as cover in goal with shortage in the goalkeeping department. They made four changes after Saturday’s victory over Frenford.

Kickoff:

It was a chilly night in Southend, and although both teams worked hard throughout the first half, the decisive touch was missing. In the second, each side enjoyed spells of control and took advantage when on top.

Both teams traded early chances. On three minutes, the Rovers had the first chance when a long throw in into the box wasn’t cleared but Shaun Gittleson volleyed the ball way over fifteen yards outside the box. On four minutes, Nasim Regragui had a great chance for the visitors was denied by a great combination of keeper Rob Budd and a defender Harrison Topliss when a ball crossed across the area was shot goal bound at the back post and the ball spun narrowly wide. Moments later, Luke Hirst curled a shot over the bar when well placed for the hosts.

After fifteen minutes, Tyreece Robertson went into the referee’s book after a late challenge on Shaye La-Rose. On 17 minutes an Alfie Attrill cross found Regragui, who slipped at the crucial moment, but the ball fell to Chaka Barnett, whose effort was well saved by Budd to tip the ball around the post.

At the other end, a long throw in Bradley Bennett was partially cleared outside the box which led to a dangerous swirving shot by Bradleigh Rowland, but Finn Rushton reacted sharply to palm it away.

The visitors were forced into a change after half an hour as the injured Tyreece Robertson made way for Celeany Filho.

As the half drew to a close, the visitors had more of the chances. Ryan Pickles picked out Regragui on 41 minutes, but he lifted his strike over the bar and the first half came to a close.

Halftime: Rovers 0-0 Barking

After the restart, both sides fashioned half-chances, but both teams continued to lack that clinical final ball. With 51 minutes gone, Pickles had a shot turned behind by Budd, and a minute later Regragui produced a fine run and shot that forced a corner. On 57 minutes Barnett’s cross found Attrill, who fired narrowly wide.

Momentum slowly then shifted towards the Rovers as Barking were pinned back, and from a 60th-minute corner Rushton spilled the ball, allowing Gittleson to score, only for the referee to disallow the goal for a foul on the keeper.

The pressure kept building, and Rushton was called into action again on 63 minutes. Two minutes later, Rovers broke the deadlock. A corner wasn’t cleared and Max Gnandi deflected the ball to Harry Talbot, on the pitch for just eight minutes, and he swivelled to smash the ball into the roof of the net and give Rovers the lead.

Gradually Barking regained their composure and crucially, found a way back into the match with their substitutes playing key roles. On 85 minutes, the visitors drew the game level.

Sam Edwards closed down a pass in midfield and fed a good pass to Chaka Barnett between two defenders, and he coolly finished past Budd for the equaliser.

Two minutes later Saliu Lo Seye slipped Barnett through again, and only a block in a rather delicate place from Budd prevented a late Barking winner. In the closing stages it was the Blues who pushed the harder, but despite their efforts they couldn’t force a winner, and the points were ultimately shared.

Fulltime: Rovers 1-1 Barking

A tough one to take but a step in the right direction for the Rovers who now go into Saturday’s clash in good form.

Some photos curtesy of Nicky Hayes.