Late goals from sub Caitlin O’Callaghan – just 25 seconds after coming onto the field – and Amy Dawson rescued a point for the Millers at Roundwood.

Despite creating a hatful of chances, Rotherham went into half-time 2-0 behind to Stamford.

O’Callaghan finally broke the visitors’ resistance with 15 minutes to go, seizing on a loose ball to lash home (below).

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And Dawson brought the Millers level on 83 minutes as she cleverly volleyed in from 20 yards.

It was the least Rotherham deserved, and a winning goal wouldn’t have been unmerited for a performance in which the Stamford goal was peppered with shots.

Milly Colford, Sophie Gordon, Delia Hurdiss and especially Alesha Gale will have gone home hardly believing they hadn’t scored, the latter twice being denied by busy Stamford keeper Maisie Thompson.

Katrina Parsons in the home net also made two top-class saves to keep Stamford to just the two goals – a side-footed finish after just a minute from Lauren Dodwell and a long-range effort from Gemma Holloway 20 minutes later.

A rain-lashed Roundwood crowd looked on as chance after chance was denied by a combination of sharp saves by Thompson and finishing not finding the mark.

After the break, the Millers continued to apply pressure and create numerous openings, but it took until the closing stages to break through.

Rob Hilton sent on O’Callaghan and she popped up in the right place at the right time to beat Thompson.

The equaliser was a high-quality effort, Dawson having both the technique and the instinct to volley over the stranded keeper and spark a late rally in search of a winner.

Stamford were forced to put an outfield player in goal after Thompson was shown two yellow cards – both given for time wasting – but the visitors made it to full time without conceding further.

The draw leaves the Millers still without a win this season but with performances very much on an upward curve.

Attention switches to the Women’s FA Cup on Sunday for the visit of Chesterfield FC Women. Kick-off at Roundwood is at 2pm.

Photos by Alex Roebuck