Substitute James Alabi popped up late on to preserve Leyton Orient’s unbeaten start to the season, as the O’s recorded a 1-1 draw away to FC Halifax Town.

Alabi, who replaced James Dayton with nine minutes remaining, scored his first goal for Orient following his summer move from Tranmere Rovers when he bundled the ball home from close range in the first minute of stoppage time to cancel out Dayle Southwell’s opener from the penalty spot.

The result extends Orient’s unbeaten start to the season to ten games and leaves them in third place in the National League.

Head coach Justin Edinburgh named an unchanged starting line-up for the sixth game in a row, but there was one change on the bench, with Alabi replacing Crystal Palace loanee Levi Lumeka after serving a three match suspension following his red card against Gateshead.

Both Orient stopper Dean Brill and Halifax goalkeeper Sam Johnson were forced into relatively comfortable saves early on but the O’s then started to get on the front foot, with Marvin Ekpiteta’s deflected effort rolling just wide of the post and Josh Koroma’s strike being well blocked by Johnson after good work from Charlie Lee, Jobi McAnuff and Macauley Bonne.

Ekpiteta had another chance for the East London side moments later as Bonne’s blocked header landed straight at his feet, but the defender’s effort was pushed away by Johnson.

Top-scorer Bonne then couldn’t keep his attempt down after being well found by Myles Judd and the Zimbabwe international spurned another opportunity just before the half-hour mark, but he could only fire over the bar from 18 yards after being set-up by Dayton.

The O’s were on top by this point and they carved out another presentable opportunity just before the break, as Lee’s pass found Joe Widdowson, who had got past Halifax’s backline after a trademark run forward from left-back, but his cross just alluded Koroma at the far post.

Having wasted a number of chances in the first half, Orient should have been in front shortly after the re-start as Lee found Bonne who drilled a cross to the unmarked Koroma, who somehow couldn’t get his shot on target.

Orient were made to pay for those missed chances when Halifax were awarded a penalty by referee Simon Mather, which was converted by Southwell to hand the hosts the lead.

Edinburgh brought on Matt Harrold and Alabi as the O’s chased an equaliser, which came deep into stoppage time.

The ball found its way to Alabi at the far post after a scramble, and the forward, who has endured a frustrating start to life at Brisbane Road, made amends for his red card at Gateshead by converting from close range to score what proved to be a crucial equaliser.

There was to be late drama, though, as the O’s had Brill to thank when the experienced goalkeeper pulled off a superb save to deny Matty Kosylo’s free kick at the death to ensure Orient picked up a point on the road.

Edinburgh’s side are back in action next weekend at the Breyer Group Stadium when they take on John Still’s Barnet on Saturday.

Halifax Johnson (GK), Clarke, Brown (C), Kosylo, Southwell (Maher 84), Edwards, Lenighan, Berrett, Preston (Odelusi 90), Skarz, Hanson.

Subs: (Not used): Rowley, King, Sellars.

Booked: Hanson (40), Berrett (86).

Orient: Brill (GK), Judd, Ekpiteta, Coulson, Widdowson, Dayton (Alabi 81), Clay (Harrold 76), Lee, McAnuff, Bonne Koroma.

Subs (Not used): Sargeant (GK), Happe, Lawless.

Referee: Simon Mather

Attendance: 1,972 (358 Orient fans)