Image source, PA

Well there you have it. It's all to play for in this battle to reach the League Two play-off final and you can read Tom Garry's fine report here.

Dean Parrett's superb curling effort for Stevenage was cancelled out by this man, Barry Corr, leaving the tie in the balance before Thursday's second leg at Roots Hall.

We also saw two of the nastiest head injuries you're likely to see on a football pitch, after Bira Dembele and Michael Timlin came together in the first half, the latter needing 15 stitches to seal his wound.

Hope you've enjoyed our live text tonight. We'll be back tomorrow from 19:00 BST for Swindon against Sheffield United in League One.

Adios.

Tom Garry
BBC Sport at Lamex Stadium

"Both sets of fans seem pretty happy with that. The travelling supporters will be the happier, and confident they can finish the job at Roots Hall, but did they miss a big opportunity tonight? Phil Brown's side spent an awful lot of time in the Stevenage half and perhaps should be ahead in this tie.

"Now, after the intense noise of the second half, an almost eerie calm has fallen over the Lamex Stadium. There's a hint of - 'we'll see you on Thursday' from both sets of fans."

Southend manager Phil Brown told Sky Sports:

"If you look at the cut on Michael Timlin's forehead, and he wanted to play on, can you believe it?

"It was pure commitment from both teams. I think we just edged it in terms of chances and possession but at the same time it's a draw and hopefully we can do the job on Thursday."

Southend captain John White tells Sky Sports:

"We knew it was going to be a real scrap to get a foothold in the game. Once they got the goal ahead, it knocked the stuffing out of us for a few minutes. But I thought we reacted well and got back into it quite quickly."

Image source, Tom Garry

BBC Sport's Tom Garry at the Lamex Stadium:, external The players trudge off after an intense first leg of this play-off tie. To be continued on Thursday....

Stevenage midfielder Dean Parrett tells Sky Sports:

"It's two good teams and we both fought hard. We worked hard. They scored from a set-play, which we work on every day and we're a bit disappointed about that."

The free-kick almost drops for a dramatic Stevenage winner, but Tom Conlon's turn and shot goes wide of the goal. But did that take a deflection off a Southend defender? The referee doesn't think so and blows for full-time.

One last chance for Stevenage? A free-kick on the right after Myles Weston takes out Jerome Okimo.

Southend almost nicked it at the death there. Southend clear a Stevenage corner to Myles Weston, who breaks into the box down the right, but his shot from a tight angle is kept out by Chris Day in the Boro goal.

David Worrall is close and this time it would have counted. Southend sub Myles Weston does a couple of stepovers down the right to earn his some space, and puts in a deep cross which Worrall acrobatically turns just wide of the goal.

The referee's board then signals four minutes added time.

Southend midfielder David Worrall thinks he's through on goal, but has just gone too early and is offside. His shot misses the target anyway.

Will Stevenage go for the win? Daniel Bentley in the Shrimpers goal has not been beaten at Roots Hall in the last 12 games he's played there.

That referee's notebook has a fair amount of airtime tonight. Southend sub Gary Deegan is another one in the book for a clumsy challenge which sums up this game.

Image source, Getty Images

Just six minutes left. Will anyone be able to find a winner or will it be level going into the second leg?

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Barry Corr has worked his socks off today as well as equalising for his side, so Southend boss Phil Brown gives him a well-earned rest, bringing on Charlton loanee Joe Pigott in his place.

Stevenage midfielder Chris Whelpdale is the latest player to go into the referee's book for hauling down David Worrall on the halfway line.

A couple of substitutions now as Tom Pett comes off his namesake for Tom Conlon for Stevenage, while Southend boss Phil Brown replaces Stephen McLaughlin, on loan from Nottingham Forest, with Myles Weston.

Tom Garry
BBC Sport at Lamex Stadium

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"This is a different tie all of a sudden, with those goals sparking things into life. The pace has intensified, and there a few nervous faces among the home crowd, with Southend spending a lot of time in the Stevenage half."

Ben Kennedy has looked very decent since coming on for Stevenage, and he cuts inside to take a great left-footed shot from outside the area, which Daniel Bentley can only parry to safety. Anyone for another wordly?

Danger from a Southend corner again. It's almost a carbon-copy of the one they scored from, but Barry Corr can't find the goal or a team-mate, and Stevenage scramble it away.

Meanwhile, Bira Dembele is back on the bench after having stitches to fix up his head following the clash with Michael Timlin.

Stevenage goalkeeper Chris Day, knowing he has 56-year-old Dave Beasant looking on from the bench, pulls off a fine save.

Southend captain John White fizzes a shot from 30 yards out, and despite a deflection off a defender, Day is able to keep it out at full stretch. Great stuff all round.