A late penalty from Lee Martin stopped Southend United's reserves from winning at Ipswich Town this afternoon.
Blues, who had the fit-again Jean-Yves M'Voto in their defence for the first 45 minutes had recovered from going a goal behind to lead 2-1 with goals from Scott Spencer and Jamie Dennis.
But Martin's 84th minute penalty at Town's Playford Road training ground meant the game ended in a 2-2 draw.
Ipswich were on top early on with Tamas Priskin heading wide of the right post from a promising position.
Moments later, Reggie Lambe fired wide of the opposite upright from 20 yards before Martin also went close with another effort from long range.
Priskin then shot over when clean through on goal but, with 17 minutes on the clock, Town broke the deadlock when Martin's right wing cross was headed home by Priskin from eight yards.
Southend hit back with Jean Francois Christophe forcing Ipswich goalkeeper Ian McLoughlin into action with a low effort from 20 yards and, in the 24th minute, Blues equalised as Dougie Freedman tackled Troy Brown and teed up the on-rushing Spencer who made no mistake with an assured finish.
Town almost immediately regained the lead but Priskin wasted another one on one as he fired straight at Joyce and the miss soon increased in significance as Dennis put Southend ahead in the 33rd minute with a low drive from the edge of the penalty area which flew into the bottom left hand corner of the net.
M'Voto made way for Adetayo Osifuwa at half-time as planned while Spencer was replaced by Harry Crawford.
And it was Crawford who next went close to scoring as he headed Freedman's centre over the crossbar.
The game was less eventful during the second half but, in the 84th minute, Town equalised from the penalty spot after Christophe brought down Martin inside the area.
The former Manchester United striker dusted himself down and fired the resulting penalty into the bottom left hand corner of the net.
Southend still almost won though as in dying seconds of the game, Freedman curled a 25 yard free-kick against the outside of the right post.
Southend: Joyce, Christophe, M'Voto (Osifuwa 46), Reynolds, Herd, Asante (Hazell 70), O'Keefe, Dennis, Walker, Spencer (Crawford 46), Freedman.
Subs not used: James-Lewis and Milner
