Avro manager Alex Frost admits that his side are ‘massive underdogs’ going into their historic FA Cup clash with Guiseley tomorrow afternoon, despite their stunning start to their NWCFL Premier Division campaign, writes Liam Bambridge.

Six successive wins and clean sheets have been recorded in the league since the season began at the end of July, but Frost is under no illusions as to the size of the task facing his players this weekend in the club’s first ever appearance in the First Qualifying Round.

"We have had a brilliant first month, but Saturday afternoon is a whole new ball game for us," said Frost. "Guiseley were playing three levels above us in the Conference North last year, and that is a huge gap to bridge in non league terms.

"We have nothing to lose, but there is no way that we can be considered as anything other than massive underdogs for this one."

The club has now broken the record for the most clean sheets at the start of an NWCFL season, beating the mark set by Congleton Town in 2018-19 after a resounding 4-0 success at Longridge Town on Bank Holiday Monday. Two first half goals from Michael Afuye and a third from Liam Ellis meant that the game was as good as over by the interval, with Sam Rathbone adding a fourth early in the second period.

Overall just two goals have been conceded in ten games in league and cup, with the only blemish being the 2-2 draw at Emley in the FA Vase last Friday on an evening when Frost was forced to ring the changes, after their titanic FA Cup struggle with Albion Sports had finished less than 48 hours beforehand. The home side eventually triumphed 4-3 on penalties.

And the former Ashton United defender has nothing but praise for a squad which includes a host of new signings added over the summer months.

"It takes a very special set of players to be able to go on a run like this. There have been times when the game has been won and they have still fought tooth and nail to defend their goal.

"They know that this is just the beginning, but they deserve enormous credit for what they have already achieved."

Goalkeeper Grant Shenton faces a race to be fit for the trip to the outskirts of Leeds, after struggling to shake off a persistent thigh injury. However, his absence would open up the intriguing possibility of a reunion between another experienced keeper and his former club. Former Guiseley fan favourite Steven Drench filled in on Monday with Shenton still not fully recovered, and could yet be in line for a return to the club for whom he made more than 250 appearances, albeit on this occasion in the opposing goal. Frost is glad to be able to call on such experienced cover should the need arise.

"Steven came in on Monday and was excellent. Obviously Shents has been a big part of our success in this first month, so everyone is hoping that he will make it.

"However, if he does not feel right, we are very fortunate to have such a good alternative available to us in arguably the biggest game in our club’s history.

"Everyone is buzzing about it and we cannot wait to get out there and give it a real good go."