Atherton Collieries’ visit to Lichfield City on Saturday, which finished 0-0, was a fuse that stubbornly failed to ignite during 90 minutes of 40mph gusts.

A first half that faced a delayed kick off because of complications with the goal netting managed to pass by as slowly as the M6 traffic, with barely an incident of note as both sides struggled with the blustery conditions and said goal netting remaining much unthreatened.

Colls were playing the ball too hard with the wind behind them, while Lichfield were not playing the ball hard enough playing into the wind.

Indeed, it took even 10 minutes into the second half before even a slight glimpse of goalmouth action, Liam Sheppard dragging an effort across the face of the home goal.

There was a brief flicker of life shortly after the hour mark as, in keeping with the general theme of the game, Lichfield skipper Charlie Shaw blazed wildly over having been afforded a clear view of the Colls goal, before Sheppard flicked Fenton Davies’ inswinging cross agonisingly wide of the target at the other end.

As stoppage time thoughts headed back to the trek home, both sides fluffed gilt-edged opportunities to pinch all three points.

The hosts were left on their knees in disappointment as substitute Leighton McMenemy headed against the top of the crossbar, having survived moments earlier as Sheppard saw a header denied at close range and Freddie Gordon’s rebound deflected away for a corner via the frame of the goal.

Lichfield remain rooted to the foot of the table, while Colls will be looking to climb the division as they start to make inroads into their mountain of games in hand with another trip down the M6 on Wednesday to face play-off chasing Shifnal Town.