Southend finished the first leg of their play-off semi final with Doncaster Rovers evenly poised following a goalless draw at Roots Hall.

There is still everything to play for in next Friday's second leg and, in truth, such was the way this encounter panned out that your safest bet would be to flip a coin in trying to separate the sides.

Southend were the better team during the first half while Doncaster raised their game after the interval, with neither side prepared to give a quarter in pursuit of a final spot at Wembley.

With the nature of the tie and what was at stake, it was perhaps of little surprise that both teams made a competitive start, even though Paul Heffernan took it to the extent when he was sent off late-on for a ridiculous head butt.

Mark Gower jinxed his way into space to line up a shot outside the box, but his low effort was straight at the diving body of goalkeeper Neil Sullivan.

Doncaster may have needed time to settle, but Matthew Mills was inches away from scoring when he connected with Gareth Robert's free kick and headed narrowly wide of the right-hand post.

Such a warning certainly presented more urgency in Southend's favour and a good passage of play down the right flank allowed Simon Francis to supply a low cross into the box for Lee Barnard, who in turn set up James Walker for a close range strike that was decisively blocked by Mills.

Francis was heavily involved again in the final attack of the half when he meet Gower's left wing cross at the far post and hit a clean strike, which needed a swift reaction save from Sullivan to deny him the opening goal.

Walker will feel he should have done better at the start of the second half when he raced through, but blazed over the top.

Doncaster created more in front of goal as they applied more pressure, with Heffernan shooting wide from outside the box before Jason Price had a great opening when he was played through with just Darryl Flahavan to beat, but the goalkeeper spread himself to make a superb stop.

Walker shot straight at Sullivan from 15 yards out before Barnard displayed great control in taking down a cross, but he was unable to take advantage and shot over.

Doncaster had to play out the final three minutes with 10 men after Heffernan aimed a head butt at Charlie Mulgrew in front of the referee and was shown a straight red.

Southend struggled to find the cutting edge needed to take advantage despite a succession of dangerous crosses into the box, one of which saw Barnard win the ball but head over the top.

The game is now finely balanced next Friday when Southend travel to Doncaster still believing that reaching Wembley is within sight.

Southend: Flahavan, Francis, Clarke, Barrett, Mulgrew, Black (Revell 62), McCormack, Bailey, Gower, Walker, Barnard.

Doncaster: Sullivan, Green, Mills, Heffernan, O'Connor, Stock, Guy (Hayter 80), Hird (Taylor 90), Coppinger, Price (McCammon 88), Roberts.