Avro manager Alex Frost was left to reflect on 'one of my proudest moments in football' as his side battled their way past Albion Sports with a dramatic penalty shootout win to secure a place in the FA  Cup First Qualifying Round for the first time in the club's history.

After a goalless draw in their first encounter at the Vestacare the previous weekend, the two sides still could not be separated after 120 minutes of nerve-jangling action in the replay.

And despite initially falling behind in the shoot out, two saves from Grant Shenton turned the tie on its head, with substitute Michael Afuye slotting home the decisive spot-kick to seal a momentous success.

"It's hard to know what to say after that," said Frost. "Just when you think that you have seen everything this group of lads can contribute to the cause, they take it up another level.

"That was so, so tough out there tonight. We were battling against a really tricky playing surface and an opposition who fought tooth and nail to try and win the tie - they wanted it every bit as much as we did. I thought we totally deserved to go through but the way in which we eventually achieved it has to go down as one of my proudest moments in football."

When Liam Ellis skied the first penalty of the shootout to hand the advantage to the home side for the first time in the tie, even the most optimistic of Avro supporters must have feared the worst on a night when they had done everything but score in the previous two hours of football. Kane Wallwork had been denied by a brilliant save in the first half and the woodwork in the second, and just when Joe Rathbone thought he had broken the deadlock in the 90th minute, an assistant referee's flag for offside cut short the celebrations.

Rathbone had another golden opportunity right at the death in extra time but volleyed over from close range, and when Ellis' spot kick also cleared the bar, it seemed more likely than ever that the night would end in huge disappointment.

"I really thought it just wasn't going to be our night at that point," admitted Frost. "But luckily they didn't see it that way! Two great saves from Shents and some great penalties from the lads, and all of a sudden we are through. Amazing stuff - I am so pleased for all of them and for everyone connected with the club."

The relentless August schedule means that there is no time to reflect on the historic success, with a trip to Emley in the FA Vase kicking off less than 48 hours later.

"We'll just have to see who feels they have enough in the tank to be involved," said Frost, whose side then travel to Longridge Town on Bank Holiday Monday. "We need to look after the players' well-being - they are an unbelievably committed set of lads, but they are not machines. We will have a head count on Friday morning and take it from there."

The eighth successive clean sheet means that Frost's have now played 12 and a half hours of league and cup football without conceding a goal.

However, given the physical demands of this first month of the campaign, there would be few who would be surprised if this stunning statistic were to come to an end over the course of the long weekend.