The diminutive left-back turned winger confessed he thought he may never play again after badly breaking his leg against MK Dons in February, 2008.

There was severe complications in his arduous and painful recovery but, after finally making his full return, all those doubts quickly disappeared as he tormented the Luton defence.

However, substitute Mark Nwokeji stepped up to ruin his moment with a 74th minute leveller for the Blue Square Premier outfit, souring a day which had been going so perfectly.

"I thought there was only one team going to win it after I scored," admitted Brogan, who came in for the second round tie with flank player Kevin Ellison injured.

"But we made a little mistake in midfield, he broke through and now we'll have to go down there and try and win it again."

Gary Roberts' misplaced pass deep inside his own half gifted Kevin Gallen possession and the veteran striker gratefully threaded in Nwokeji, the substitute holding his nerve to clip over goalkeeper Andy Warrington and deny the League Two high-fliers.

The hosts, who had been seeking a fifth straight win, were equally as sloppy when allowing Luton to take a surprise 19th-minute lead.

Rotherham had all the early pressure, looking like a side full of confidence, neatly spraying the ball around and creating ample chances.

Brogan curled a free-kick just over the bar in only the second minute, Ryan Taylor had a powerful shot deflected wide and Tom Pope rose high to nudge a header just past the post off Nicky Law's corner.

Then, after a quick throw-in by Brogan, striker Pope crossed
in from the left only to see Taylor fail to gain a proper connection.

However, with their first real attack, Luton ruthlessly countered from deep and all too easily exposed Ronnie Moore's outfit.

The pacey Adam Newton was allowed too much space to turn right-back Mark Lynch inside out before slipping a clever pass across the area to the unmarked Claude Gnapka.

Andy Nicholas tried to make up ground but only served to clumsily hack down the Frenchman, Tom Craddock dispatching the penalty.

Rotherham immediately lost their rhythm while Luton – relegated last season after a 30-point deduction – gained confidence, Gnapka and Gallen both gaining sights of goal.

It was not until deep into first-half stoppage-time that the home side levelled, the prolific Adam Le Fondre turning in a quality centre from Pope.

"That goal spurred us on," said Brogan, who then came out and put Rotherham ahead just after the hour-mark in a scrappy second period.

Roberts' fine delivery from the right invited Brogan in and his looping header left Kevin Pilkington beaten from 15 yards out.

It was Brogan's second headed goal in three games after scoring off the bench against Port Vale a fortnight earlier.

"I don't know what's going on," he said. "I'm not known for my headers but I just hope they keep coming.

"That was my first start since breaking my leg and only my fifth appearance of any sort.

"I enjoyed scoring again and the leg felt good. I don't know if people can detect a limp still. It's still stiff my ankle but it's not pain and, hopefully, that will go in time. It's just brilliant to be back and getting a starting place."

Ordinarily a left-back, Brogan, 21, had been pushed further forward in three previous appearances off the bench and his trickery caused Luton problems.

"I think I'm an attacking left- back but if he wants me to play left wing – Kev (Ellison) picked up a little injury – then I'm happy to do so as long as I'm starting," he added, before recalling the dark days of his recovery. "It definitely went through my head that I might not play again," said the Millers Academy product.

"It was a long, long time – 18 months – before I made an appearance of any sort.

"He (the specialist) kept me positive but, after I did play my first game, he said he had had doubts himself that I might ever play again. He was pleased to see me back as there'd been a good chance I wouldn't.

"I had a lot of family here today and it was just such a buzz."

After Nwokeji equalised, Brogan could still have got a winner after he stole into the six-yard area unmarked awaiting Lynch to deliver. But Luton defender George Pilkington's outstretched leg just blocked the cross and Danny Harrison's rasping long-range left-foot drive also went wide to leave frustrated Rotherham facing a replay.

Rotherham United: Warrington; Lynch, Fenton, Sharps, Nicholas; Brogan, Law, Roberts, Taylor (Harrison 79); Pope, Le Fondre. Unused substitutes: Annerson, Broughton, Green, Mills, Cummins, Joseph.

Luton Town: K Pilkington; Blackett, White, G Pilkington, Murray; Nicholls, Keane, Newton, Gnapka (Nwokeji 68); Gallen (Hall 90), Craddock (Howells 83). Unused substitutes: Gore, Jarvis, Asafu-Adjaye, Emanuel.

Referee: P Tierney (Wigan).


MATCH FACTS

Hero: Stephen Brogan

Most of Rotherham's brightest moments came from the defender-cum-winger's incisions down the left and his headed goal should have been enough to put his side into the third round draw proper..

Villain: Gary Roberts

The otherwise assured central midfield player endured a moment of madness when his simple but needless square pass went adrift. It resulted directly in Mark Nwokeji's equaliser..

Key moment

74th minute: Mark Nwokeji finishes off Kevin Gallen's through ball to earn the underdogs an unlikely replay.

Ref watch

Paul Tierney: Perhaps should have booked Luton players for regular and blatant time-wasting.

Verdict

Basic errors cost Rotherham dearly and provides them with an extra fixture they can do without as promotion remains the priority.n

Next game

Shrewsbury Town v Rotherham United, tomorrow, League Two, 7.45pm.

Quote of the day

Bad decision-making gifted them two goals – how naïve to get done with that penalty and then we cut our own throats with a silly square ball.

– Rotherham's Ronnie Moore.





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