Harry Pell had an 89th minute penalty saved as Rotherham extended their lead to six points at the top of League One.
Millers defender Richard Wood was sent off for hand ball on the line and then there was a couple of minutes delay as a couple of home fans came onto the field.
Substitute Pell fired his spot kick – only Stanley’s second of the season – straight at Josh Vickers and Mitch Clark then hit the post in injury time with Matt Butcher’s follow-up saved to deny the Reds a point.
It means Dan Barlaser’s 57th minute volley proved the difference between the sides.
There was no Colby Bishop (injury) with Lewis Mansell getting the nod up front. Captain Seamus Conneely came back into the side after an injury which has kept him out since December 7th
Stanley had a good chance in the 10th minute when a Sean McConville free kick found Jay Rich-Baghuelou but he headed straight into the arms of Vickers.
Rotherham’s first real chance came on 21 minutes when Will Grigg’s effort was well saved by Toby Savin and his follow-up was cleared off the line by Conneely.
A Ross Sykes long range effort took a deflection to make it easy for Vickers while former Red Michael Ihiekwe headed over for the Millers in a half of limited chances.
Reds boss Coleman was shown a yellow card on the stroke of half-time after referee Andy Woolmer booked Savin for time-wasting.
McConville had an early close range header but it was comfortable for Vickers as the Reds started the half well.
On 52 minutes, Kody Adedoyin replaced Mansell for his Stanley and league debut after signing from Sheffield Wednesday this week.
Former Red loanee Michael Smith fired over for Rotherham before they took the lead on 57 minutes.
A Ben Wiles ball was cleared up in the air and former Reds loan midfielder Barlaser ran onto it and hit it first time, volleying into the top corner of the goal.
Ollie Rathbone clipped the ball narrowly wide just after as they looked for a second.
Just after the hour mark Tommy Leigh came on for Conneely while on 70 minutes, Pell came on.
The Reds enjoyed a spell of pressure, Vickers superbly keeping out a Pell header but the Stanley player was off-side.
The visitors came so close on 84 minutes when McConville’s low shot was kept out by Vickers and Leigh’s follow-up was chested off the line.
Then the game exploded on 87 minutes when Wood was judged to have handled on the line but Pell’s penalty wasn’t strong enough.
Savin superbly stopped Wiles from wrapping the game up in eight minutes of added time and then came Clark’s late strike which hit the post and a great save from Vickers.
It meant the Reds, who have beat Rotherham twice this season, were unlucky to leave the ASSEAL Stadium empty-handed as Paul Warne's side made it seven home wins on the bounce.
Stanley: Savin, Rich-Bagh, Sykes, Nottingham, Conneely (Leigh), Clark, Butcher, Hamilton, Amankwah (Pell), McConville, Mansell (Adedoyin)
Subs: Isherwood, Rodgers, O’Sullivan, Longelo
Yellow: Savin, Rich-Bagheulou, McConville, Hamilton
Attendance: 8,539 (256 from ASFC)