Cup joy with victory at 11th attempt ... on-the-whistle report: Bromley 0 Rotherham United 2

Rotherham United marched into the second round of the FA Cup as they ended their 10-match winless run and Alex Bruce came out on top in the battle of the bosses.

The League Two Millers were up against opposition from the division above and fully deserved their victory at Bromley's Copperjax Community Stadium.

A goal in each half did the damage and put them into Monday night's draw.

The first-round tie pitted Bruce against Karl Robinson, the man he had coached under at Salford City before taking the Rotherham hot-seat.

The latter had to accept defeat in his first match in charge of the Ravens as a makeshift Millers side exceeded expectations to claim.

They now have a fortnight off because of the international break before resuming their fight to climb away from the lower reaches of the fourth tier.

Depleted Rotherham were on the back foot in the opening stages as Bromley had three attempts on goal, none of which troubled Ted Cann.

The visitors threatened for the first time on 11 minutes when Brandon Williams crossed from the left and George Sebine headed straight at goalkeeper Shamal George.

Cann had to react sharply to tip the ball away when a Sonny Aljofree clearance deflected off the head of George Saville and was heading towards the net.

The match was only the second ever meeting between the clubs. The first had also come in this tournament, in November 2021, when the Millers were 3-0 victors at AESSEAL New York Stadium over the Ravens who were then in the National League.

The contest became more even as the first half progressed and Aaron Nemane caused problems for the home side with some darting runs down the right.

Bruce's men took the lead six minutes before the break and Aljofree's delighted celebration showed how much his first goal since his summer move meant to him.

He ran to the away fans after converting Josh Austerfield's cross with a bullet header.

Rotherham's number of missing men was in double figures, with 10 first-teamers ruled out by a combination of injuries, suspensions and illness.

Top scorer Paul Mullin was still suffering from flu and hadn't made the long journey to south-east London.

Cann was preferred in goal to Julian Eyestone, and on a young bench was Dean Gardner who had been recalled from his loan at non-league Matlock Town to add to Bruce's options. Such was the size of the casualty count that two substitute places were left unfilled.

In the Bromley line-up was Millers old boy Mickel Miller who played his part in a League One promotion during the managerial reign of Paul Warne.

Rotherham came so close to extending their advantage eight minutes after the restart when Sebine, who had been playing really well, broke clear only to see his shot come back off the far post.

However, the Millers didn't need much longer to go further ahead as Tom Bradshaw latched on to Nemane's pass, skipped around the keeper and clipped the ball over the line.

They had a let-off when Ethon Archer's fierce drive cannoned off the bar yet they continued to fashion the game's best chances and should have put the contest well beyond Bromley.

Bradshaw hit the post with a header from a Klaidi Lolos cross and Nemane should have buried the follow-up but was denied by a fine stop Then Lolos shot just wide and Austerfield had an effort saved.

No matter, they saw out the match with a degree of comfort.

"Millers, Millers, Millers," chanted the travelling supporters.

It had been a good day.

Bromley (4-2-3-1): Shamal George; Marcus Ifill,, Kamarl Grant, Richard Taylor (Chanse Headman 59), Jacob Mendy (Freddie Cowin 59); George Saville, Kamil Conteh; Jodi Jones (Nicke Kabamba 81), JJ McKiernan (Mitch Pinnock 59), Mickel Miller (Ethon Archer 59); Michael Cheek. Subs not used: Grant Smith, Will Hondermarck, Corey Whitely.

Rotherham (4-4-2): Ted Cann; Denzel Hall, Sonny Aljofree, Kieran Ngwenya, Brandon William; Aaron Nemane, Josh Austerfield, Jayce Fitzgerald, Brandon Cover; Tom Bradshaw (Dean Gardner, 87), George Sebine (Klaidi Lolos 76). Subs not used: Julian Eyestone, Lenny Agbaire, Emmanuel Adegboyega, Hamish Douglas, Kane Richardson.

Goals: Aljofree 45+1, Bradshaw 55 (Rotherham)

Referee: Sam Mulhall (Greater London)

Attendance: 2,044 (303)