Harriers came close when Broughton nodded Sall's hanging cross over the bar on 69 minutes but the visitors were just not coming close enough to test the Southend keeper.

The home side retaliated and Johnson flashed a low shot across the face of goal a minute later. Tony Bird flew into the fray late on in place of Colin Larkin

Then followed a series of substitutions as Harriers' midfield man Shilton replaced Williams on 73 minutes.

Southend brought on Beard for wideman Belgrave soon after before the visitors introduced Bird in place of Larkin on 78 minutes.

Southend made their second substitution eight minutes from time with Richards on for the lively Bramble.

Stamps rifled a long-range volley wide as Harriers forced a number of corners without forcing Flahavan into too much action.

Southend made their final switch a minute from the end of normal time with midfielder Thurgood replacing Johnson.