JOHN COLEMAN'S belief in the philosophy that first is first and second is nowhere meant little solace for the Stanley manager from his side's magnificent performance at Rotherham.

Accrington were denied a League One scalp in the LDV Vans Trophy for a second season running when they conceded a last-gasp extra-time equaliser.

Then with tired legs and minds affecting Andrew Mangan and Romo Boco in the penalty shoot-out, Stanley conceded the advantage to Rotherham and completed their exit when Mike Flynn skied his spot-kick over the bar.

It was a cruel blow for a Stanley side that twice came back from a goal down to embarrass their supposedly superior opponents and lead 3-2 thanks to efforts from Mangan, Robbie Williams and David Brown.

But the fact that such attacking endeavour was not enough to take Stanley through left Coleman fuming.

"It's not unfair. We did play great but we squandered chances and conceded three goals and that's not good enough. It's not good enough that we need to score four goals to win a game," Coleman said.

"They were not in the game in the second-half and then we bossed extra-time but for some reason we sit in in the last five minutes. You have got to win games if you are going to be successful and we did not see it out when the game was there to be won.

"Going forward we are as good as anything in our league or above, but we can't keep scoring four goals to win a game. I am absolutely devastated."

Coleman's frustration at his side's inability to keep things tight at the back has been a recurring theme this season and it's a problem that needs to be addressed if Stanley are to fulfil their potential.

Having ridden their luck early on at Millmoor, Accrington produced a superb display of controlled attacking football, inspired by captain Ian Craney.

Rotherham made sweeping changes to their side but still fielded a team full of League experience and Craney was still the outstanding player on the pitch.

The 23-year-old dominated from central midfield as he and winger Gary Roberts showed the international calibre England non-league manager Paul Fairclough believes they possess in naming the pair in his first squad of the season.

Ahead of them Mangan again saw his stock rise with a front-running performance that scared the wits out of Rotherham's back-four and made up for the absence of Paul Mullin, whose neck injury prevented a family get-together with Millers midfielder John.

There was not a poor performance from a Stanley player as on-loan Wigan youngsters Kevin Lee and, in particular, Phil Edwards, recovered from nervous starts to thrive on their senior debuts before giving way to cramp in extra-time as Coleman also rang the changes.

At the other end of the age-scale Andy Dibble made a couple of fine early saves to keep Stanley in the tie after they had fallen behind to Martin Butler's 10th-minute opener.

Accrington's goal led a charmed life but Mangan's pace at the other end was a constant worry for the hosts and he showed a cool head to level eight minutes later when running onto Boco's pass to beat Gary Montgomery.

Rotherham quickly restored their advantage when Will Hoskins played a one-two with Barry Conlon and poked a shot past Dibble but they were never on top again.

Stanley took control after the break and looked the classier outfit as Craney and Mangan were denied by Montgomery and Roberts shot wastefully wide.

Mangan then shot against the post but the equaliser finally came 15 minutes from time when Robbie Williams, enjoying a central midfield role, blasted home after more good work by Roberts.

Boco could then have won it in normal time with a shot he dragged just wide but Stanley maintained their grip into extra-time and went ahead when Craney led another break before squaring for substitute Brown to roll in a 10-yard shot.

Brown and Anthony Barry then had efforts blocked in the final 15 minutes and all Stanley's good work was undone in added time when their increasingly deep-lying defence was undone by a cross from Stephen Brogan which was headed into the top corner by Marc Newsham.

With the momentum lost Boco and Mangan saw weak penalties saved by Montgomery, and even though Craney and Brown converted their efforts going first and fourth, Rotherham were not about to pass up their chance to save face.

Scott Minto, Paul Hurst and Butler all beat Dibble and even though Hoskins hit the bar, Flynn's miss meant no late reprieve.