Fun and games at the start with the news that JP Kalala and Peter Gilbert were stuck in traffic, but we get underway with Blues boss Paul Sturrock making four changes; Bilel Mohsni, Anthony Grant, Ryan Hall & Paul Sturrock all making the side with Kane Ferdinand and Liam Dickinson given the night off completely.
However, while there was no place for Daggers former Blue Damien Scannell there was the cheering site of previous injury victim ex-Captain Kevin Maher making his debut.
And it was Southend who dominated the early stages with player-of-the-month nominee Michael Timlin shooting wide from a Hall assist in the opening minute, and on eight the majority of the support in the away end felt there was a case for yet another spot-kick given to the Shrimpers as D & R keeper Chris Lewington bundled over Mohsni but referee Stroud failed to give the decison.
Soon after Grant tries his luck from the edge of the box to see his shot go wide.
Then, after the away side had won 4 corners in succession, the Daggers started to fight their way back into the cup tie with three corners of their own, while Troy Hewitt struck straight at Shrimpers keeper Glenn Morris.
However, it was the Shrimpers who were to take the lead on the half-hour, following a shot from close range that just missed to the left Ryan Hall further justified his recall when, yes, a long throw by Ryan Leonard was well controlled by the winger on one knee before volleying home a low, hard strike that gave Lewington no chance!
A comfortable period for United into the break, a couple of Dagenham corners, even a chance for another Grant effort, before the ref blew for half-time.
The second 45 started with a shock to the away side when Anthony Grant fell to the ground obviously in pain, and though he carried on for a while he was eventually replaced by Neil Harris to be seen leaving the ground at the end of the game with his right foot in a protective boot.
Before that a chance for the Shrimpers to settle the tie when five minutes after the break McCrory fouls Leonard and with Dickinson having his feet up up Hall did the honours, and missed!
It had to happen then, the Daggers equalised, with a certain irony attached to the player who scored it.
66 minutes, a deflected free-kick taken by Damien McCrory, now up the other end, from the edge of the area, finds the top left hand corner of the net, game on, though he does receive a yellow card for his efforts!
Maher is playing a typical ex-Captain Kev game, would have been nice to see Scannell, but for the home side, having got back in the game, it was soon to be taken away from them.
A trademark Ryan Hall run into the penalty area and, bang, the ball's in the bottom right hand corner of the goal, the 915 travelling faithful in the 2,393 crowd, not bad, are going wild after such a superb individual effort, Ryan is back, a brilliant brace!
The Daggers make two late substitutions to try and force an equaliser and Jake Reed goes close with a header, but it's Southend who get the final goal.
4 minutes into stoppage time Neil Harris, you can't stop him scoring now, followed up his first shot which was well saved before gliding the ball past Lewington.
Five wins on the trot now, Crewe back in the league on Saturday looks more inviting, but I don't envy Luggy his team selection, and who knows the lads might have a new team-mate.
Draw for the third round on Soccer AM from 10am on Sky Sports 1.
It's all happening at the Hall, and not just Ryan.
Southend United player markings: Morris - 6, Clohessy - 7, Barker - 7, Mohsni - 8, Gilbert - 7, Hall - 9, Kalala - 6, Leonard - 6, Grant - 6 (Harris 52 - 6), Timlin - 7, Sturrock - 6.
Referee: Mr. K. Stroud - 6.