In the first minute Levi Reid crashed a 20-yard drive inches over the bar. Then in the fourth minute Adam Murray started a move that ended with a brilliant one handed save by 'keeper Andy Warrington.
Macclesfield went to sleep in the 13th minute looking for a foul by Chris O'Grady on Izak Reid. But with the referee playing on, O'Grady picked out the unmarked Derek Holmes who clipped the ball home from eight yards.
Rotherham were desperately unlucky not to extend their lead five minutes later when left-back Stephen Brogan saw a curling 20-yard free kick thump back off the upright. Paul Hurst picked up the rebound and lashed it across the six-yard line where it ricocheted off Luke Dimech, going inches past the post and out for a corner.
Macclesfield had a succession of chances after the break with Reid again unerringly too high with a 20-yard drive, before Murray released Danny Thomas who skewed a left-foot shot wide of the post.
Martin Gritton then tried an audatious lob from 30 yards that sailed over the bar and onto the roof of the net.
Target man Gritton was at his best in the 61st minute when he connected powerfully with an inch perfect Kevin McIntyre cross to score the equaliser with a header from six-yards out.
Both sides then huffed and puffed as they searched desperately for a winner, but neither could carve out a clear chance and only in the closing stages was Warrington forced to plug a Francis Green drive out of the night sky in front of the Millers travelling support, who booed the side off in frustration at the final whistle.
Match reaction to follow later.