SUBSTITUTE Gavin McCallum struck in the final minute to earn Hereford a point at the Don Valley Stadium.

The Bulls were under the cosh for long periods in the first-half against the high-flying home side but rallied well to deserve their point.

Defender Danny Blanchett was recalled to central defence in United’s only change from their previous League Two clash.

Blanchett took over from Darren Dennehy with Ryan Valentine, who had been a doubt with a groin problem, passed fit to continue at left-back. Mathieu Manset, despite his goal-scoring appearance in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy against Aldershot in midweek, remained among the substitutes.

Kenny Lunt’s saving tackle on the penalty spot on Adam Le Fondre prevented a Millers goal inside the first minute after Sam Gwynne lost the ball in midfield.

Rotherham continued to pile on the pressure in the early stages and a third-minute corner routine ended with keeper Adam Bartlett making a good claim at the far post.

After further home pressure, Hereford fell behind in the 11th minute. Kevin Ellison’s low cross from the left evaded the entire Hereford defence and Le Fondre poked in at the far post.

Even then, Hereford were unable to mount a meaningful attack and Pablo Mills almost doubled the lead on 15 minutes with a shot which grazed a post.

The Bulls began to gain some possession in midfield, but, on 27 minutes, a shot from Ellison drifted only just over the Hereford bar.

But a free-kick almost brought United back level. Ryan Green’s free-kick reached the head of Craig King whose effort went narrowly over the bar.

Rotherham responded immediately, however, and Bartlett was quickly off his line to block as Le Fondre broke through on the left of the United area.

Hereford were lucky to survive when Tom Pope got a good connection with Ellison’s corner only for the ball to fly over. Hereford’s occasional emergence as an attacking force saw King head on to the roof of the net from a Lunt cross.

But there was no respite at the back, with Le Fondre firing an angled shot past Bartlett and wide of a post.

Good work by Mark Marshall set up James Walker whose neat turn and left-foot shot drew a good save from Andy Warrington.

But Hereford had another let-off when Ellison’s free-kick was volleyed on to the bar on 39 minutes by centre-back Nick Fenton.

On the brink of half-time, Marshall should have done better when he shot over from 10 yards.

Hereford introduced Manset at half-time in place of Marshall.

Rotherham continued to look dangerous and Valentine had to make a clearance from near the goalline as Le Fondre closed in.

Ellison cracked a shot wide but Manset, whose appearance livened up the visiting support, found the space to get off a shot which was easily saved by Warrington.

Hereford again came close, though, when Ian Sharps did well to block Marc Pugh’s effort when Darren Jones flicked on Gwynne’s cross following a Lunt corner.

Ellison should have extended the Millers’ lead, but his close-range shot went over the bar after Hereford struggled to clear a long throw.

With Edrissa Sonko now on in place of Gwynne, Hereford continued to mount promising attacks without creating clear openings, although King shot high over from the edge of the area.

And, in the final minute, Lunt worked the ball through to McCallum who rifled a shot past Warrington to earn Hereford what was, in the end, a deserved point.

Hereford: Bartlett, Green, Jones, Blanchett, Valentine, Marshall (Manset, 46 min), Lunt, Gwynne (Sonko, 71 min), Pugh (McCallum, 83 min), Walker, King. Subs not used: Adamson, Rose, Done, Constantine.

Referee: Neil Swarbrick (Lancashire).

Attendance: 3,452.