PETER CLARKE notched his second goal of the season and Robbie Simpson his first as Town finally broke their Johnstone’s Paint Trophy hoodoo.

It’s five years since the club registered a victory in this competition, but early headers – Clarke in the second minute and Simpson the seventh – were enough to book a berth in Saturday’s second-round draw.

Adam Le Fondre’s 35th-minute reply ensured the 796 Town fans in a 2,346 crowd could not relax, but Lee Clark’s side did enough to deserve their first away win of the campaign.

On a pitch still showing signs of severe wear and tear following a recent U2 concert, Town showed four changes from the side which beat Yeovil 2-1 in League I on Saturday.

There was only a second start for striker Simpson, with Lee Novak playing alongside him (Jordan Rhodes was on the bench and fellow six-goal marksman Theo Robinson rested).

Jim Goodwin came into central midfield for Antony Kay and Nathan Clarke into the middle of defence in place of Andy Butler.

Rotherham boss Mark Robins, who is being linked with the managerial vacancy at Barnsley, brought in three new faces after the 3-1 League II win at Macclesfield, midfielder Micky Cummins, wideman Andy Liddell and striker Kevin Ellison, the latter replacing ankle injury victim and recent £150,000 signing from Crewe, Tom Pope.

Town were playing towards the damaged end of the pitch in the first half, but widemen Lionel Ainsworth and Anthony Pilkington certainly weren’t restricted as Lee Clark’s side got off to a flying start.

Just 90 seconds had elapsed when Pilkington won a corner on the left which Ainsworth flighted in for Peter Clarke to head home.

Rotherham were still reeling when Town added a second in the seventh minute.

This time Pilkington won a free-kick, and when the ball was worked to him on the right, he centred for Simpson to beat keeper Andy Warrington with a well-placed glancing header.

Novak had a great chance to make it three in the 12th minute when he ran on to a long ball over the defence, only to steer his shot wide.

Rotherham finally found some rhythm, and Peter Clarke made a key block as Cummins shot from Liddell’s cross.

Then Nicky Law thumped a 19th-minute free-kick straight into the Town wall (Michael Collins was booked for his foul on Cummins).

But Town were still carving out good chances, and Collins should really have netted when set up by Simpson in the 22nd minute, but looked on in frustration as Jamie Green blocked on the line.

Ainsworth shot narrowly wide from Pilkington’s 27th-minute pass, and Town were made to pay for those misses when Rotherham pulled a goal back in the 35th minute.

Le Fondre, another £150,000 signing (from Rochdale), was the man to register with a close-range shot, but it was Law who did the spadework with a great run and cross from the left which had the Town defence scrambling.

Alex Smithies made a fine tip over to deny Kevin Ellison an equaliser direct from a 38th-minute free-kick, then at the other end, Ainsworth was denied when Warrington saved with his legs in the 39th minute.

The second half was a slow burner, with the first real chance coming on the hour, when Simpson drilled a free-kick into the Rotherham wall.

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Novak had a great chance two minutes later, when Pilkington and Ainsworth combined to set him up.

The Geordie’s close-range shot, however, was too close to Warrington, and the keeper saved.

Collins was also denied a minute later, before Ellison twice had the home fans on the edge of their seats when breaking down the left, but each time he shot across the face of goal and wide.

Pilkington and Simpson brought late saves from the busy Warrington.