The opportunity for progression in the FA Cup is still alive for Luton Town following a 2-2 draw with League Two Rotherham United.

Goals from Tom Craddock and Mark Nwokeji in either half were a fitting reward for the Hatters who did their bit in what was a good cup tie.

When things got under way, in the first couple of minutes at the soulless Don Valley Stadium, Stephen Brogan fired a long-range free-kick narrowly over after an unnecessary foul by Alan White.

The Millers, looking to pass their way through the visiting defence, forced a couple of early corners, the second of which saw Ryan Taylor glance a free header wide.

Yet to settle, the Hatters weren't seeing much of the ball with Rotherham enjoying nearly all of the possession and territory.

With Brogan a constant threat down the left flank, the visitors were struggling to get a foothold in the contest and it was only their scrambling defence that was maintaining parity.

Brogan then gave Kevin Pilkington some work to do as he cut in from out wide although his shot lacked much in the way of power.

It took 16 minutes for the Hatters to force a corner – their first real foray forward – which, after a bout of head tennis, saw White push his header to the left of the target.

Three minutes later, Luton were awarded a penalty when a fluent break resulted in Claude Gnakpa being fed by Adam Newton before the wideman was brought down by Andy Nicholas.

Craddock, with his first meaningful contribution, made no mistake with the spot kick to give Luton a somewhat fortunate lead.

The goal gave Luton a boost and Gnakpa then tried his luck, but he could only fire wastefully high after a good turn in the box.

The Hatters looked far more comfortable a goal to the good, but they had to rely on a Newton clearance from close to the line after a corner wasn't dealt with.

With both sides trying to play football, a decent spectacle was being served up, one that Luton were coming more and more into.

Shane Blackett glanced a Kevin Nicholls, who was curiously warned for time-wasting, free-kick straight at Andy Warrington and Craddock had a goal-bound effort deflected for a corner as the pressure started to be applied to the hosts.

Gnakpa failed to control the ball six yards from goal when a corner found its way to him, but if Luton looked comfortable in the lead, in injury time, the Millers leveled things up.

Taylor's cross from the right found Adam Le Fondre a few yards out and the prolific front man had the relatively simple task of converting.

The second half opened with the Hatters on the front foot although it was Rotherham who threatened to add to the score when Ian Sharps' header was deflected wide before it could test Pilkington.

Luton's keeper then did well to come out an claim a good Taylor centre with a pair of Millers lurking at the back post.

Both sides would've claimed to have had the better of proceedings thus far with the tie ebbing and flowing in both directions and you would've been hard pushed to have picked a winner.

That task was made a bit simpler just after the hour. Brogan, who gave the hosts a natural left-footed balance that Newton didn't for Luton, looped a header from Gary Roberts' cross over Pilkington.

A 2-1 scoreline was maybe a touch harsh on Luton who replaced the erratic Gnakpa with Nwokeji midway through the half and moved Craddock out to the left.

And the change worked in the 74th minute. Kevin Gallen's through ball split the Millers' defence and Nwokeji took his time to calmly finish past Andy Warrington.

The goal ensured a lively finish, Danny Harrison lashing a long-range effort past Pilkington's right-hand post as Rotherham had the better of the final stages.

But as far as chances went little more happened and the sides will get the chance to do it all over again at Kenilworth Road.

MILLERS: Warrington, Lynch, Fenton, Sharps, Nicholas, Brogan, Law, Roberts, Taylor (Harrison 80), Pope, Le Fondre.
Substitutes: Annerson, Broughton, Green, Mills, Cummins, Jospeh.

HATTERS: Pilkington, Blackett, White, G Pilkington, Murray, Nicholls, Keane, Newton, Gnakpa (Nwokeji 67), Gallen (Hall 90), Craddock (Howells 83).
Substitutes: Gore, Jarvis, Asafu-Adjaye, Emanuel.

Referee: P Tierney
Assistants: R Metcalfe; S Ross.

Attendance: 3,210 (Luton 648).