Quick-thinking Mark Gower and recalled keeper Darryl Flahavan snatched a point for promotion-hopefuls Southend as resilient Mansfield were denied their second home win in eight games.
The Stags, beaten just once in eight games, thought they had earned caretaker manager Carlton Palmer his second home win when Adam Murray fired in his fourth goal of the season in the 54th minute, but just four minutes later, after a string of fine Flahavan saves on his first start of the season, Gower converted a controversial free- kick to grab an equaliser.
The Stags almost got off to the perfect start when Richie Barker' s pass released Colin Larkin, but the striker's poor control allowed Che Wilson to clear.
United looked the more dangerous in an entertaining start, and it needed the outstretched leg of Luke Dimech to block Kevin Maher's goal-bound shot. Then Fredy Eastwood's low drive from a well-worked right-wing move forced Kevin Pilkington into a save.
Eastwood then squandered a clear chance in the 27th minute, blazing over from close range after Mansfield failed to clear a corner. The home side almost made the high-flying visitors pay for the missed chances when Larkin's strike from an acute angle was pushed around the post by Flahavan.
In the 34th minute the keeper repeated his acrobatics to hold on to Simon Brown's 25-yard blockbuster.
In the closing minute of the half, Mansfield went close to taking the lead on three occasons from four successive corners.
First, Jake Buxton's powerful shot was deflected over, then Flahavan dived full length to turn away a header from Mansfield debutant Gareth Jelleyman before Brown volleyed narrowly wide.
Mansfield's pressure finally told nine minutes into the second half when Barker nodded down an Alex Baptiste free-kick for Murray to crash home.
Two minutes later goal-maker Baptiste almost turned scorer when his fierce header from a Wayne Corden free-kick was tipped over by the flying keeper.
Within two more minutes United were level. Gower won a free-kick, and getting up after taking it quickly, raced into the area unmarked to receive Eastwood's pass and fire the ball into the net.