DAGENHAM & Redbridge progressed to the next round of the Essex Senior Cup with a nail-biting victory on penalties after they had played out a thrilling 3-3 draw with Ryman Premier leaders Great Wakering Rovers.

Mark Nwokeji, making his first start for the club for almost year after a knee injury, played a key role in the Daggers' first goal, as he laid on Joao Carlos for a tap-in after 12 minutes.

The next goal didn't arrive until two minutes before half-time when Rovers' striker Neil Richmond burst into the box and finished coolly for the equaliser.

Steven Demetriou's cross-cum-shot found its way into the net ten minutes after the break for the hosts to retake the lead, but Richmond's second of the game pulled them back once more.

Billy Bingham, who has just been awarded a new contract with the club, then scored from a Graeme Montgomery corner to make it 3-2.

But Great Wakering just would not lie down and they forced the game into extra-time with an injury-time strike from Ben Hudson.

There were to be no further goals in extra-time, and the game went to penalties.

The home side missed two, but the visitors missed one more and the Daggers squeezed through 5-4.