Cheltenham were looking to steal a march on their rivals in the relegation battle by taking three points into the weekend fixtures, while a win would have temporarily lifted Southend into the play-off positions.
In the end a draw was probably the right result from a scrappy game played in a difficult swirling wind but with both sides contributing what they could.
Southend almost took an early lead when left-back Charlie Mulgrew's free-kick from 25 yards got past the defensive wall, but Cheltenham goalkeeper Shane Higgs scrambled across to his left to make a good save.
Apart from that it was difficult to see where a goal was going to come from until the 25th minute.
A piece of inspiration was needed and Cheltenham striker Steven Gillespie conjured it up after winning the ball on the halfway line and beating two defenders with a forceful run down the left.
Gillespie's low cross from the byline was met at the far post by Steve Brooker, who tapped it in to register his third goal in three games.
Cheltenham set out for the second half attempting to defend in numbers and attack on the break.
Those tactics almost paid off with first Michael D'Agostino and then Brooker seeing goalbound shots blocked.
The home side were unable to press home their advantage and Southend, who stuck to their task with admirable resolve, were rewarded in the 74th minute.
A left-wing cross from the impressive Mark Gower found its way to James Walker.
His shot was blocked but only as far as Nicky Bailey, who drove the ball back through a crowd of players and in off the goalkeeper's left-hand post.