Leyton Orient held their nerve in a penalty shootout to reach the League One play-off final after a gripping semi-final battle with Stockport.
Jack Diamond and Ryan Rydel missed from 12 yards as Orient prevailed 4-1 on spot-kicks after an absorbing tie had ended 3-3 on aggregate following a breathless 1-1 draw at Edgeley Park.
Ollie O’Neill had fired Orient ahead after just three minutes but Stockport claimed a deserved equaliser with a superb flick from Isaac Olaofe 16 minutes from time.
Olaofe spurned a gilt-edged chance in the closing minutes of normal time and the Hatters suffered further anguish as Odin Bailey hit the post late in the second extra period.
They paid the price for those misses as Josh Keeley saved from Diamond and Rydel struck the post in the shootout.
After the controversy over the first of Charlie Kelman’s two goals in the first leg, it will be a further bitter pill for County, who dominated large spells of the game.
Yet while their dream of a fourth promotion in seven seasons is over, Orient are now within a game of a returning to the second tier for the first time since 1982.
The drama began early on as Orient caught the home defence napping to grab the lead.
Ethan Galbraith lobbed a free-kick into the area and Irish winger O’Neill held off Owen Moxon to lash past Corey Addai from a tight angle.
Orient fans knocked over an advertising hoarding in the celebrations but the County supporters were hardly silenced as they attempted to roar their side back into the contest.
The Hatters responded well with Ibou Touray shooting at Keeley and Olaofe heading across goal.
Captain Fraser Horsfall went closer as he headed against the post and put another chance wide after Olaofe nodded over.
Kelman went close to doubling Orient’s lead just before the interval with a header that bounced down off the underside of the crossbar.
He also had the first opening of the second half as he raced on to a through-ball but saw his attempted lob palmed over by Addai.
Driven forward by the energetic Ollie Norwood, Stockport battled on and were rewarded for their persistence when Olaofe flicked them level.
Keeley looked to have Diamond’s initial strike covered but the keeper was wrong-footed by Olaofe’s clever backheel.
Olaofe should have settled the contest in stoppage time but failed to hit the target after charging into the area.
Stockport had the better of the chances in extra time but Horsfall’s glancing header was pushed away.
Keeley then produced a stunning save to keep out a low shot from Horsfall and Bailey thought he had snatched victory in the dying moments only for his effort to strike the post.
Orient punished the hosts with four perfect penalties and will face Charlton or Wycombe at Wembley.
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