When Ryan Cresswell headed home his first-half opener, the Rotherham press were busy with their headlines.

The defender had scored the winner in a last-gasp 3-2 victory over Accrington last season and he seems to relish his trips to the Crown Ground.

Luckily for the hosts Sean Hessey made sure his former Macclesfield team-mate didn’t have another hero slot as it was Hessey who stole the headlines with his quick-thinking goal seven minutes from time.

The 32-year-old took a rapid free kick, catching keeper Conrad Logan still organising his wall, and in it went for his first goal of the season and an important one to stretch Accrington’s unbeaten run to five games.

And it was what Stanley deserved against early pacesetters Rotherham who, despite the loss of striker Adam Le Fondre to Reading, remain one of the favourites to go up this season.

The 400-strong visting contingent didn’t agree as they booed referee David Webb off the pitch after he permitted what they saw as a controversial late goal but boss John Coleman felt it was Rotherham who got a let-off.

"I am amazed the referee was booed off by the away supporters as he has not given three penalties against them.

"I am not getting at the ref as I think he is a good ref and it was difficult with the wind.

"But I felt we had two handballs against us in the area and a push at the far post on Andy Procter and we have to accept that.

"I don’t think the referee determined the outcome of the game though as both teams went for it and either one could have won."

Craig Lindfield had an effort cleared off the line by Dale Tonge before Rotherham – who could have taken over top spot from Morecambe with a win – scored their opener.

Boss Andy Scott said that he felt a set-piece could hurt Stanley and a Danny Schofield corner found the head of the leaping Cresswell who celebrated his first goal of the campaign.

It got frantic after that with goalmouth scrambles in which the Reds appealed for their spot kicks, both Stanley and the Millers had shots blocked in the area while keeper Sean Murdoch pulled off a stunning low save to keep out what looked a certain Gareth Evans goal just after the break. At 2-0, the Reds could have struggled.

But they kept battling away and Hessey got his rewards as the Reds, in a similar vein to last Tuesday’s Johnstone Paints Trophy victory over Carlisle, put on another late show.

Stanley were awarded the kick for handball 25 yards out and Hessey grabbed the ball, had a word with the referee and it almost rolled into the net with Logan stranded. The Millers defence ran protesting to the referee but he was having none of it as the Stanley defender celebrated a rare goal.

Rotherham did come close to snatching an injury-time win with Tonge firing wide when unmarked and Murdoch keeping out sub Chris Holroyd but Stanley deserved their point.

"I was pleased with the way we performed," said Coleman.

"I thought we took the game to Rotherham and they scored with their only attempt in the first half, which is disappointing for us.

"We then had opportunities in and around their area but our keeper has made a fantastic save down to his right. If that goes in then they could win it 2-0 or 3-0.

"But we kept going and I do not think it states anywhere you have to wait for the whistle.

"Sean asked the ref if he could take a quick free kick, the ref said yes so they can have no complaints.

"I do think that if it was a points decision, we would have won it so it shows we are going in the right direction.

"We kept going, trying to win the game, we pinned them back for long periods of the game and we certainly put some decent crosses in and now we have to work on converting a few more of them."

This is especially important as Coleman knows it’s vital to win home games if the Reds are to challenge for a top seven spot – something which paid dividends last season in the fifth-place finish.

"I am still disappointed we haven’t won at home and that’s the benchmark for where we want," said the Reds boss.

"We want to win our home games, then points away from home become favourable. But it’s there for people to see.

"I'm getting a team that is prepared to play passing, attacking football when it’s allowed and if we can improve our cutting edge going forward, we can be a match for anyone. to be successful is to win at home and take what we can away from home.

"That’s five games unbeaten and that builds up confidence and resilience."

Rotherham boss Andy Scott was complimentary about the Reds: "It was a good game, it was two good teams going hell for leather for the win at the end. John Coleman has a strong side here and this could turn out to be a very good point for us."