Jermaine Easter continued his impressive run of goal-scoring form as MK Dons eased past Dagenham & Redbridge and into the second round of Johnstone's Paint Trophy.

Front-man Easter took his tally for the season to six with a second-half double that put the knife into the Daggers, after Dean Lewington's header had broken the deadlock.

Substitute Josh Scott pulled a goal back for the League 2 leaders in stoppage time, but it proved mere consolation as the Dons' quest to regain the trophy they won in 2008 got off to an impressive start.

The game was also a memorable one for defender Danny Swailes, who put 12 months of injury hell behind him to make his first Dons appearance since undergoing Achilles surgery in September 2008.

Swailes came on to replace Danny Woodards with 13 minutes remaining to the delight of the Dons supporters, who might just wonder if tonight's performance was the start of another glorious march to Wembley under Ince's guidance.

Danny Swailes made a long-awaited Dons comeback against Dagenham.

Having expressed his disappointment at the Dons' defence of the trophy ending prematurely last season, Ince's team selection was a clear indication of his desire to re-stamp his authority on the competition.

While the likes of David McCracken, Luke Chadwick and Luke Howell were rested, Easter's appearance on the teamsheet along with Lewington at centre-half and the outrageously talented Jason Puncheon told its own story.

Starting games well has been a trait of the Dons so far this term and when Richie Partridge's cross from the right found the head of Jabo Iberhe, only an excellent save from Tony Roberts prevented that pattern continuing.

But it was Dagenham who fashioned the best of the early chances - Paul Benson intercepting Puncheon's wayward pass to go clear on 10 minutes but unable to beat Dons 'keeper Willy Gueret with his angled drive.

Jemal Johnson tackles Abu Ogogo in the early stages.

Benson nearly had his revenge on Gueret six minutes later when he managed to block the Frenchman's attempted clearance inside the box and divert the ball just wide of the Dons goal.

Easter showed some nifty footwork to lose Will Antwi and fire in a shot on Roberts' goal and Puncheon drove one just off target shortly afterwards, but it wasn't until after the break that the home side really stamped their authority on proceedings.

With Puncheon dictating from a central midfield role, ably supported by the neat and tidy work of Mark Carrington, Dons started to express themselves and find plenty of holes in the Daggers defence.

On 48 minutes, Ibehre outmuscled Scott Griffiths to charge into the box from the right and whistled a shot just over Roberts' crossbar and into the gasping Cowshed.

Dean Lewington climbs to head the Dons in front.

Though Wes Thomas brought another smart save from Gueret with an angled shot just a minute later, you always sensed the home side were more likely and Dagenham's defence started to strain under the pressure.

Roberts and Mark Arber made a real mess of dealing with a Mathias Doumbe ball downfield on 54 minutes and when Puncheon won a from the ensuing chaos, Dons took the lead.

Roberts looked vulnerable as he flapped at Puncheon's delivery from the right and when Partridge clipped the retrieved ball in from the left, Lewington hung brilliantly to plant his header into the corner from nine yards.

It took barely two minutes for Easter to double the advantage as Dagenham again buckled under a set-piece - the Welshman spinning to fire home from close-range after Roberts had pushed out a header from his own defender Will Antwi.

Lewington celebrates with the Cowshed after his opening goal.

That prompted a rampant spell of Dons pressure that could, and probably should, have brought the home side a hatful.

Ibehre saw an effort clawed out by Roberts on 66 after Puncheon's one-two with Easter had sliced Dagenham wide open, but the Daggers 'keeper was less fortunate a minute later when he could only push Easter's long-range drive in off his own post.

Ibehre should then have slid in to make it four on 71 minutes after Puncheon and Johnson had combined to create an opening down the right, before Dagenham began a late rally that climaxed with a consolation.

Mathias Doumbe beats Will Antwi in the air.

Antwi rattled the outside of Gueret's post with a well-struck volley before Scott's powerful header was clawed out by the plunging Frenchman.

But Scott did finally make a breakthrough, to Ince's obvious frustration, when he headed in from close range after Arber had knocked down Graeme Montgomery's corner.

Dons progress to round two, the draw for which is on Soccer AM this Saturday.

MK Dons (4-4-2): Gueret; Woodards (Swailes 77), Doumbe, Lewington (c), Davis; Partridge, Carrington (Gleeson 72), Puncheon, Johnson; Ibehre, Easter (Leven 72).

Subs not used: Searle, Howell.

Goals: Lewington 55, Easter 57, 67.

Dagenham & Redbridge (4-4-2): Roberts; Ogogo, Antwi, Arber (c), Griffiths; Nurse (Scott 73), Gain, Kilbey, Montgomery; Benson (Green 56), Thomas.

Subs not used: Doe, Lewington, Bingham.

Goals: Scott 90+2.

Booked: Scott

Attendance: 4,413 (173 away)

Referee: Steve Rushton (Staffordshire)