A dramatic finale in Lee Bell's first game in charge saw Crewe book their place in Monday night's FA Cup second round draw.

Bassala Sambou plundered a stoppage-time winner after a barnstorming run from Kelvin Mellor minutes after League Two leaders Orient were reduced to 10 men when Craig Clay saw red.

Bell generously dedicated the coupon-busting success to outgoing boss Morris, who chose to step down on Friday just six months after being handed the managerial reins.

The pair have swopped roles as a solution to the difficult period Morris has been enduring off the pitch in his personal life.

And Bell, who came through the club's youth ranks with his managerial colleague, declared: "I'm dedicating that win to Alex. It was always going to be an emotional day as Alex is an unbelievable person who has dedicated his life from the age of 12 to this club.

"It takes a brave man to do what he has done. It's been the topic of conversation for six to eight weeks now with him. He's had a death in the family and a lot of other issues which I think he will talk about when he feels it is right.

"I was really excited to [take charge] and preparing what I thought the players' information should be. I want them to play with more freedom and excitement, which I think we saw, particularly from our flair players."

Sambou's finish flies into the net to shock League Two's leaders (Picture credit: Kevin Warburton).

Bell made two changes to the side succumbing to a 3-0 defeat at Barrow last Saturday with Billy Sass-Davies in at the back and Lachlan Brook making his first league start since October 1 in midfield.

Orient boss Richie Wellens underwent a more radical revamp of his table-topping side with six changes, but it didn't seem to slow the Londoners down as they started on the front foot and had an early goal chalked off.

Charlie Kelman wrestled the ball out of Arthur Okonkwo's hands before finding the far corner, but was judged to have fouled the keeper, who was kept busy making saves from George Moncur, Kelman and Stephen Duke-McKenna.

The woodwork came to Crewe's rescue after Moncur made the most of a short corner and crashed an angled effort onto the underside of the bar.

But while the Alex were playing in their own half for much of the first half, O's keeper Lawrence Vigoroux needed to make an agile save to keep out a Dan Agyei header from a Tariq Uwakwe corner.

Brook also whistled an effort over from the edge of the box before Crewe came out of their shell after the restart.

Shadrach Ogie was rightly booked for cutting down Agyei in full flight with arguably a worse challenge than Clay conjured for his red card later. From the resulting free kick Sass-Davies planted a header wide.

Alex fans got a rare glimpse at Chelsea youngster Charlie Colkett, who came off the bench to see his first action since August after a long injury lay-off.

But it was the oldest player in the Alex ranks who made the difference. Mellor first blocked Orient leading scorer Paul Smythe's goal-bound effort as Wellens stoked up his ammunition by drafting on a quartet of regulars.

Then after Clay got his marching orders for following through on Sambou (87), Mellor burst down the right to deliver the perfect cross for Sambou to get across his man and finish with aplomb for his first goal of the season.

Alex Morris took up a supporting role today as new Alex boss Lee Bell started with a win (Picture credit: Kevin Warburton).

Bell added: "We had to weather the storm a bit as they are a good team - we had to respect them and let them have the ball to just quieten the game down.

"I thought it was a much more even second half. When their lad (Smythe) went through and the boys were throwing their bodies in the way, I thought that was there only real chance."

Bell's winning start was the perfect tonic after the surprise managerial announcement and a second round tie to look forward to could revive interest in a campaign that has faded badly since September.

Ignoring the midweek Papa Johns' Trophy penalty shoot-out win over Leeds under-21s, this was Crewe's first success in nine games. But victory over lowly Colchester at the Mornflake Stadium next Saturday will be of greater importance for the interim manager as he seeks to impress the club's board.

For now though Alex fans will be glad they are in the hat for Monday night's draw, which can be watched live on BBC Two (7pm) – and the ball to watch out for is number 35.

Billy Sass-Davies climbs high (Picture credit: Kevin Warburton).