In a week which many would describe as a soap opera at Leyton Orient, the club’s derby clash with Dagenham & Redbridge proved just as dramatic after a 3-2 victory at Brisbane Road revived their League Two play-off hopes.

A brace from Jay Simpson had put Orient 2-0 up at the break, but this evaporated in the space of two second half minutes just before the hour as Jamie Cureton and Clevid Dikamona levelled proceedings.

But with Kevin Nolan watching in the stands, infamously now no longer in charge, Armand Gnanduillet made sure of a first win in five for the O’s, condemning the Daggers to relegation to the National League at the same time.

If the turmoil from off the pitch had taken a toll on the players, it certainly did not show as inside the third minute Orient, who have Andy Hessenthaler in temporary charge, went ahead.

From a throw in taken at the half way line, Sean Clohessy’s pass set Gnanduillet down the right and his cross found Simpson, who fired home for the first time in eight games.

The Daggers showed plenty of character going forward in the early exchanges, but were unable to create any real chances, although they were unhappy when Shaun Brisley’s shove in the box on Christian Doidge in the 11th minute did not result in a penalty.

Up the other end of the pitch, Simpson should have added a second only for his shot to go nearer to the left hand side corner flag and Gnanduillet forced a save from Mark Cousins just before the 20th minute.

Alex Cisak was also called into action when a bit of swift passing set former Arsenal youngster Justin Hoyte off in some space, with the end product lacking pace but staying on target.

Cisak was needed again 32 minutes in when Nicky Hunt’s attempted clearance was sliced backwards into Doidge’s path, but the big Australian goalkeeper saved the striker’s effort with his feet.

Perhaps knowing Stevenage were winning against Newport, the Daggers kept pushing forward in their bid to avoid relegation and their probing started causing confusion among Orient’s defenders.

Veteran striker Cureton curled a shot from just outside the box on target after the hosts made a mess of clearing their lines, with Lloyd James nearly tripping over the ball as he tried to kick it away.

Orient’s performance had become lacklustre, but just after the fourth official showed one minute of extra time would be played, Simpson doubled their lead.

Gnanduillet supplied Blair Turgott with the ball down the left and similar to the first goal, Simpson got on the end of a cross to slam the ball past Cousins.

Not long after the break, the same trio combined again and nearly saw Simpson complete his hat-trick, only for his edge of the area shot bounce off the post.

Minutes later, Turgott trouble defenders again with his pace down the left to set up Simpson, who forced a good save from Cousins.

Turgott managed to header the rebound, but could not steer his effort on target.

It was now becoming all Orient as they continued to apply pressure on the Daggers’ defence, but then proceedings were turned on their head inside the space of two minutes.

A poor header from Mathieu Baudry allowed Cureton to gather up the ball, round Cisak and cut the arrears in the 59th minute.

Then 60 seconds later, the comeback was completed when Dikamona sent a thumping shot from 25 yards past Cisak, who stood no chance between the sticks.

Anyone watching will have been forgiven for feeling seasick by now, but another motion was made in the ocean five minutes later when Orient restored their lead.

Again, man-of-the-match Turgott made a menacing run down the left and this time his ball into the box found Gnanduillet, who side-footed in the O’s third goal.

It proved to be his last contribution of the match as the striker was subbed for Ollie Palmer, who then had the next chance as his bullet header was well saved by Cousins.

Palmer went close gain in the 78th as his header was cleared off the line by Joe Widdowson and Simpson also missed another chance for his hat-trick as a shot late on flew over.

Knowing relegation was on the cards, the visitors surged forwards towards the end of the match, with Matt Richards’ free kick and a Joss Labadie effort seeing the Daggers go close, but to no avail.

Orient: (4-4-2): Cisak 8, Hunt 5, Baudry 4, Brisley 6, Binnom-Williams 6, Clohessy 7, Atangana 7 (Payne 82, 6), James 7, Turgott 9, Simpson 7, Gnanduillet 8 (Palmer 66, 6).

Subs not used: Sargeant, Kashket, Jahraldo-Martin, Ramage, Koroma.

Dag & Red: (4-4-2): Cousins 8, Hoyte 8 (Pennell, 66, 6), Dikamona 7, Hyam 5 (Taylor 47, 5), Widdowson 6, Cash 6 (McClure, 74, 5), Labadie 6, Richards 5, Hemmings 5, Cureton 6, Doidge 6.

Subs not used: Moore, Boucard, Chambers, Hawkins.