Avro manager Alex Frost admits he was ‘disappointed’ with his side’s first-half showing in their first league game at the Vestacare Stadium this season, but was delighted with their response after the break as three second-half goals secured a 3-0 win against Padiham and a fourth successive victory.

Frost said: “We were all disappointed when we came in at half time, players and management included; I don’t think anyone came in at half time thinking we had played well.

“We were disjointed, we weren’t doing things quickly enough both with and without the ball, we all knew that we were nowhere near the level which we have set for ourselves this season.”

Despite the below-par display from Avro, the visitors created just one clearcut opportunity, when Grant Shenton had to make an excellent save to keep out a powerful header from Jack Price.

And having reached the interval still on level terms, Frost’s side turned the screw after the break, with Ethan Sutcliffe scoring for the second consecutive game before Michael Afuye and Jake Cottrell added late goals as the home side’s superior fitness began to pay dividends on another hot summer evening.

“What I love about this group of lads is that when they are not playing well, they recognise it and they want to be better, no excuses, they just keep working incredibly hard and last night was a great example of the benefits of that attitude.” said Frost.

“I would have taken any sort of win at the start, and in the end we have come away with a comfortable win, which is extremely pleasing under the circumstances.”

After a close season in which a number of additions were made to the squad to complement a strong core already in place, Avro have had a near-perfect start to their 2022/23 campaign, scoring 11 goals and recording four clean sheets.

And Frost accepts their days of flying under the radar in terms of their top-six credentials may already be over.

He added: “We have made a fantastic start, we all know it is still very early days but it couldn’t really have gone better so far, and I feel that there is more improvement to come from us.

“However, teams are already now going to be taking a good look at us before we play them, and there will be that extra motivation to get a good result because if you are going well, you quickly become the team that everyone wants to beat.

“Lower Breck will be another really tough game tomorrow, they like to play football and keep the ball so our concentration levels will need to be very high again, and we will have to take our opportunities when they present themselves.”

n Meanwhile, any local residents looking to get behind the team this season on a regular basis will have the opportunity to do so free of charge thanks to the generous support of principal sponsors Vestacare, who have underwritten the cost of issuing season tickets free to anyone with an OL8 postcode.

Those interested in taking advantage of this offer should email the club at enquiries@avrofc.co.uk for more information.