Three magnificent saves by Alan Marriott sent Lincoln home with a point.
All came in the final ten minutes, two of them from Rovers top scorer Junior Agogo, the other a flying touch on to the post to keep out a Paul Trollope header.
Rovers can hardly complain for they also missed a sitter when sub Stuart Campbell broke clear only to find a post with his shot at an unguarded goal.
The first half had been notable only for the free-kicks with both sides breaking into double figures.
Some of the offences were obscure, none more so than when Lincoln's captain Paul Morgan was penalised for a challenge on Agogo just outside the box.
Morgan protest so vigorously a yellow card came out and the kick moved ten yards forward.
Off the pitch that decision also sparked a running war of words between Lincoln's manager Keith Alexander and the fourth official, Alison Chapman. Alexander was eventually ordered to take his seat on the bench and to stay there.
He found that as much of a struggle as both teams did to inject some meaning into a game caught up in a swirling wind.
Lincoln's height advantage promised to open up the game but produced just one direct effort on goal and that a rather innocent toe-poke from Francis Green easily collected by the keeper.
The best effort from Rovers saw a four-man move cut through Lincoln's defence, but it all ended with James Hunt lifting a cross from Jamie Forrester over the bar on the far side of goal.
Rovers used their flanks more after the break and Ali Gibb got in some useful crosses from the right.
Although Lincoln were now being pressed back they were distinctly unlucky on a rare break.
Simon Yeo looked for a penalty after being dumped on the floor by Christian Edwards, but for once referee Mike Russell detected nothing wrong.
The result, however, seemed a fair reflection on the game, which Rovers only came out and attacked in during the last ten minutes.
The top-heavy team selected by Atkins proved a mistake with Thorpe anonymous and Agogo and Forrester spending much of their time out of position on the left wing.
Anderson's recall was justified by a solid display by him and the Rovers defence. However, going forward this is the third game in four that Rovers have failed to score in and the lack of creativity in midfield is becoming a real problem.
This was highlighted in the turn of fortune following the introductions of Disley and Campbell.
It also seems strange that the 3-5-2 system that worked so well at the end of last season and beginning of this seems to have been completely forgotten.