Atherstone’s manager Ron Bradbury severely criticised the league officials for arranging matches on successive days over the New Year.

Fortunately it worked out fine for United. They beat Bromsgrove Rovers 5-1 at home on New Year’s Day and then faced an early start to travel down to the south coast where they played Hastings United on Saturday.

They gained a goalless draw there, but it did not stop Bradbury fuming:

"It’s ridiculous. I don’t how it has been allowed to happen. It has ruined New Year for the players and their families.

"It is never easy to get a result at Hastings, but to have to try to do it 24 hours after playing another match, is a killer. We could have moved it on 24 hours to Sunday, but that would not have helped. My players have to go to work on Monday."

Bradbury was also not pleased at being allocated tough local derbies against league leaders Nuneaton Borough and Tamworth over the Christmas period. United lost both by a single goal in each game.

Atherstone had to take a weakened side to Hastings because of injuries collected the previous day, but they still gave a good account of themselves.

Six first team regulars did not make the trip but United created the better scoring chances and could have come away with all the points.