James Shea saves to send Dagenham through

Both sides had good opportunities early on when Peter Gain rattled the woodwork before David Mooney forced a good save from James Shea.

Mooney was again involved when he was tripped by Shea as the Daggers stopper avoided a red card.

The O’s looked to have the better of the second half until Sam Williams headed the Daggers into the lead just over an hour in.

Mooney levelled with minutes to spare though to force a penalty shootout.

In a bizarre turn of events, every player scored their first penalty, meaning some were forced to test their nerve again.

Someone had to be the unlucky one and it was Ben Chorley who blinked first as Shea dived to the right to send the Daggers through.

Dean Cox overcame a virus to start for Orient having been a doubt to be involved for the clash, taking his place in an unchanged midfield.

The only change from Saturday’s team saw Jonathan Téhoué come into the side for Jamie Cureton, partnering Mooney up front.

The Daggers have an injury list which continues to grow as Luke Howell missed out after his involvement in the loss at Hereford on Saturday.

Femi Ilesanmi and Billy Bingham were both drafted into the starting line up.

Orient looked comfortable on the ball in the opening exchanges before the Daggers started to have their say.

The visitors thought they had the lead just six minutes in when the ball fell kindly for Gain, who drilled it goalwards, only to be denied by the post.

John Still’s side continued to press but the O’s grew in confidence and worked a neat move in which Mooney could have given them the lead.

Receiving the ball in the penalty area, the Irishman was able to advance unchallenged before his deflected shot was saved low by Shea.

Shea was called into action again on 19 minutes when Cox eluded Abu Ogogo on the right flank to cross for an unmarked Téhoué but the Frenchman headed straight at the keeper.

The O’s looked to be the dominant side at this point and just a minute later should have done better when a well-worked move between Cox, Mooney and Jimmy Smith saw the latter fire over from the edge of the box.

The game petered out somewhat until it sparked back into life on 36 minutes.

A long ball over the top of the Daggers’ defence saw Mooney do battle with Shea to reach the ball first with the visiting keeper upending the Dubliner in their battle.

The home fans were calling for a red card but the referee felt Mooney was heading away from goal and so showed leniency in awarding a yellow, leaving Cox to curl the resulting free kick over the crossbar.

With the half drawing to a close, Gain let fly again from outside the area, with Butcher spilling the effort as Terrell Forbes cleared the danger.

Damian Scannell went close late on, firing wide for the Daggers in injury time as the two sides headed for the break level.

The O’s were making the early running in the second period but despite their pressure, they were unable to create a clear cut chance, Mooney’s cross which eluded Smith perhaps summing up their luck.

With 65 minutes played though, the Daggers made Orient pay for their inability to convert by taking a lead against the run of play.

Scannell’s cross on the right flank found its way beyond Forbes and Williams converted with the back of his head, perhaps not expecting to receive the ball.

Still’s men were in confident mood now and could have extended their advantage minutes later when Phil Walsh found himself on the end of a Dominic Green free kick but was unable to steer it goalwards.

The O’s seemed certain to level on 72 minutes when Téhoué picked up a loose ball and burst through the defence, only to fire over, injuring himself in the process and having to be replaced by George Porter.

Bingham was proving a lively threat in the midfield and he came close to completing the scoring with five minutes to play, driving the ball at goal, only for Lee Butcher to fumble the ball wide for a corner.

The Daggers looked to have won the match but Orient dug deep and forced a penalty shootout with a late strike.

Porter burst free down the right flank and his low cross was inch perfect for Mooney to tap into an empty net.

With the game to be settled from 12 yards, every player on the pitch was able to convert their spot kick, meaning those who stepped up first had to be called upon again.

With pattern of scoring continuing, Chorley was the unfortunate one after his well-struck penalty was saved by Shea to settle the contest.

Orient penalties: Daniels, scored. Cox, scored. Chorley, scored. Mooney, scored. McSweeney, scored. Laird, scored. Forbes, scored. Smith, scored. Butcher, scored. Porter, scored. Odubajo, scored. Daniels, scored. Cox, scored. Chorley, saved.

Dagenham penalties: Walsh, scored. Rose, scored. Lee, scored. Scannell, scored. Williams, scored. Doe, scored. Green, scored. Gain, scored. Bingham, scored. Ilesanmi, scored. Shea, scored. Walsh, scored. Rose, scored. Lee, scored.

Orient: Butcher; Omozusi (Odubajo 64), Chorley, Forbes, Daniels; Laird, Smith, Dawson (McSweeney 46), Cox; Mooney, Téhoué (Porter 74).

Subs: Lobjoit, Lovelock.

Dagenham: Shea; Ogogo (Rose 46), Doe, Walsh, Ilesanmi; Bingham, Lee, Gain; Scannell, Williams, Tomlin (Green 46).

Subs: Reed, Woodall, Lewington.

Attendance: 1,420 (417).