A pulsating League One play-off semi-final first-leg clash ended all-square as Leyton Orient and Stockport shared four goals at Brisbane Road.
Charlie Kelman gave the home side a first-half lead but a penalty by Ollie Norwood and a Fraser Horsfall header put the Hatters in front before Kelman netted from the spot late on to leave the tie in the balance ahead of the second leg at Edgeley Park on Wednesday.
The visitors created the better chances in a competitively-fought first period, testing Orient goalkeeper Josh Keeley on a number of occasions.
Kyle Wootton found himself free in the fifth minute but Keeley raced out to narrow the angle and avert the danger while Will Collar should have done better with a cross when he headed wide.
A powerful drive from Owen Moxon was punched clear by Keeley before Jayden Fevrier, a constant threat down the right, cut inside Brandon Cooper and unleashed a shot which Keeley saved with his feet.
But it was Kelman, League One’s leading marksman, who opened the scoring on the half-hour mark, although the striker looked suspiciously offside.
A free-kick by Jamie Donley was touched on by Sean Clare to Omar Beckles, who flicked the ball into the path of Kelman who had the simplest of chances to find the net for the 22nd time in League One this season when he slotted home from six yards.
Free-scoring County, seeking back-to-back promotions that would see them ultimately regain a position in the second tier of English football for the first time since 2002, arrived at Brisbane Road in a rich vein of form.
Unbeaten in their previous eight matches, including seven wins, the rampant Hatters had found the net on 19 occasions in that sequence.
Meanwhile, the O’s, whose absence from the second tier stems back to 1982, were also enjoying a splendid recent run that saw them nail the final play-off place following six successive victories that yielded 17 goals.
Orient were grateful to the crossbar for protecting their lead soon after the interval when a 25-yard thunderbolt by Moxon beat Keeley but the Hatters were deservedly back on terms on 60 minutes.
Fevrier delivered a cross into the box and after Rarmani Edmonds-Green handed the ball, Norwood slammed the resultant penalty into the net.
Five minutes later Norwood floated a free-kick into the danger area and Horsfall headed home.
O’s substitute Ollie O’Neill was involved in the leveller on 88 minutes when his shot was adjudged by referee Ben Speedie to have been handed by Horsfall and Kelman stepped up to send keeper Corey Addai the wrong way.
Orient might have snatched an advantage deep in added time but Beckles volleyed over from four yards.
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