A late Gary Alexander goal consigned Dale to a fourth successive League defeat that their second half performance did not deserve.

First year referee Iain Williamson took centre stage with a series of baffling decisions especially in the penalty areas.

The home side took the lead on 21 minutes courtesy of a hotly disputed Matt Lockwood penalty and then after Dale had equalised through Lee McEvilly's penalty referee Williamson failed to give Dale a second spot kick when Chris Shuker was pulled down in the box and then given a yellow card having been adjudged to have dived.

Dale boss Alan Buckley was certainly not happy with the officials.

"If I watch football on the tv as I will all weekend I will see 100 incidents like Orient's penalty but won't see penalties given. Their lad made contact with the ball, headed it wide and then decided to jump into Michael Simpkins and fall over. The referee was conned.

"I couldn't see anything wrong with our penalty because their lad pushed Patrick McCourt over but the one that wasn't given when we were on top is another puzzle. The build up was good and Chris Shuker had gone around the goal keeper so why would he want to fall over?"

Limited

Orient certainly started the better with Dale pinned in their own penalty area but chances were limited until their disputed penalty.

In the build up to the goal Dale defender Simpkins twice gave the ball away and when Tom Newey crossed Wayne Purser headed wide and despite the fact that there were no appeals from the home supporters or players the referee pointed to the spot.

It took Dale 28 minutes to manage a shot on goal and that was a mis-hit from Lee McEvilly but five minutes later he was unlucky to see his powerful header well saved.

The half time introduction of mercurial winger Patrick McCourt saw Dale improve on a sluggish first half performance and on the hour the young Ulsterman produced a magical run weaving in and out of five challenges as he carried the ball fully 80 yards before being pushed over in the box. McEvilly duly obliged from the penalty spot for his fifth goal of the season.

By now Dale were on top and Sean McClare twice went close from distance and five minutes later Chris Shuker was denied when his lob was brilliantly saved by the home keeper.

On 75 minutes a flicked header from McEvilly released Shuker in the box but to everyone's surprise after he was clearly pulled down by Harrison the referee elected to show him a yellow card instead of pointing to the spot.

In the dying minutes Orient produced a winner that on the balance of play they did not deserve.

A slip by Dale defender Wayne Evans allowed substitute Boniek Forbes into the penalty area and his low cross was turned home from close range by Gary Alexander.

Have your say on Dale's defeat

LEYTON ORIENT: (4-4-2) Harrison, Joseph, Lockwood, McGhee, Alexander, Purser (Forbes 76), Ivehre, Peters, Hunt (Miller 70), Newey, Hammond (McCormack 66)

Subs: Miller, Morris, Forbes, McCormack, Cooper

ROCHDALE: (4-4-2) Edwards 8, Evans 6 (Townson 90), Griffiths 7, Burgess 7, Simpkins 5, Bertos 6, McClare 6, Brannan 6, Doughty 5 (McCourt 46), Shuker 6, McEvilly 6

Subs: Currier, Gilks, McCourt, Townson, Grand

Scorers:

Leyton Orient: Lockwood (penalty), 21; Alexander, 87.

Rochdale: McEvilly (penalty), 59

Bookings:

Leyton Orient: Newey, 31; Hunt, 34

Rochdale: McEvilly, 42; Burgess, 47; McCourt, 87

Corners:

Leyton Orient: 12 Rochdale: 3

Fouls Conceded:

Leyton Orient: 17

Rochdale: 15

Shots on/off:

Leyton Orient: 7/5

Rochdale: 7/5

Match Rating: lively but dominated by the referee - 7

Referee: Mr I Williamson

Attendance: 3623 Tweet