It was a bright start for the Darts, with Jake Robinson trying his luck from outside the box with an attempt to catch Harry Seadon off-guard – unfortunately the effort sailed over the bar.
Luke Allen found himself through on goal in the 21st minute, forcing a good save from the Southend United number one.
A wonder-strike from 20 yards saw the visitors take the lead in the 35th minute through O’Shane Stewart.
The home side responded with Robinson drawing a foul in the 40th minute and tucking it into the bottom-left corner comfortably.
It was a slow start to the second-half with neither team creating many clear-cut opportunities.
Dartford managed to take the lead in the 68th minute, with Dan Roberts scoring a tap-in within two minutes of being substituted onto the pitch; after terrific work from Darts’ number 11 Trialist.
The visitors rode their luck though, with an unfortunate Josh Hill own-goal levelling up the scoring in the 83rd minute.
Dartford XI: King 76′, Wynter, Meade 76′, Murtagh 66′, Essam 76′, Bonner 76′, Leonard 79′, Husin, Robinson 66′, Allen 86′, Trialist 76′.
Subs: Wilks 76′, Roberts 66′, Hill 76′, Colmer, Vint 76′, Odaudu 86, Porter 79′, Graham 76′, Baker, Wanadio 76′, Trialist 66′.
Southend XI: Seadon, Howard, Sayers, Stewart, Mitchel-Nelson, Davis, Egbri, Ferguson, Dalby, Rush, Walsh.
Subs: Andeng, Murphy, Karygo, White, Bridue, Hobson, Dennis, Ralph, Holmes, Clifford, Dunne, Gard, Ogogo.