With nine at the back from the start the Daggers simply challenged Rotherham to break them down, but the home side could not find a way through before the break.
Michael O'Connor went close with a string of three free-kicks from the edge of the area, Alex Revell got in behind the Dagenham defence but Daniel Nardiello just failed to reach his cross and Lee Freckington had two shots blocked, the second in added time when it seemed he must score.
And as the home side made all the running, Ben Pringle saw his shot deflected into the arms of goalkeeper Chris Lewington.
The only time the visitors threatened was a Matt Saunders corner in the 14th minute which was headed back across goal by Luke Howell but Abu Ogogo skied his shot high over the bar.
But 13 minutes into the second half the visitors grabbed a shock lead. Kari Arneson saw red for a last man challenge on Medy Eito and Elito picked himself off the ground to fire home from the penalty spot.
Rotherham took just seven minutes to equalise, David Noble's corner from the right was met perfectly by central defender Claude Davis and the ball nestled in the back of the net.
And nine minutes later Lewington made a magnificent save to deny Revell's Rotherham's second before the visitors restored their lead nine minutes from the end.
Davis was booked for his challenge on Elito on the edge of the area and the free-kick was pulled back across the area for Luke Wilkinson to fire home.
And when Pringle smacked a free-kick against the bar two minutes from the end, Rotherham knew it was not going to be their day.
