Avro manager Alex Frost admitted that he was just grateful to be through to the next round of the Macron Cup after his side needed a penalty shoot-out to see off the challenge of Stockport Georgians at the Vestacare Stadium on Saturday, writes Liam Bambridge.

Frost made five changes from the starting 11 against Glossop North End three days previously, but the home side still had the better of the few opportunities for either team over the 90 minutes.

However, the visitors would still have progressed to the third round had Sam Rathbone not managed to get in the way of a volley from Georgians substitute Michael Taylor which was destined for the bottom corner with just seconds remaining.

‘If I am honest, It was not one of our better performances this season,’ said Frost. “I think you have to give Stockport a lot of credit for that, though - they were well-organised, they pressed us really effectively all over the pitch.

“We have a few players with niggles and two league games coming up in the next week, so we needed to shuffle things around a bit.

However, I thought the players worked well together, they put in a real shift as they always do, and Sam’s block right at the end gave us the chance to win it on penalties, which we duly took. Overall I am just happy to get through.”

Three of Avro’s under 21 team contributed to the victory, with Mo Camara Diop and Chris Wild both making their first team debuts, and Muis Bibire Bello replacing Liam Ellis before half time after he suffered a recurrence of his knee injury.

“I was delighted with the three of them,” said Frost. “They conducted themselves very well, and they did not look at all out of place.

“We are committed to giving our young players the chance to prove themselves in our first team, and they certainly made the most of the opportunity when it was presented to them.”

Next up for Frost’s side is a return to Burscough to play Ashton Athletic this evening, with the ‘home’ team still unable to play midweek games at Brocstedes Park because of ongoing issues with their floodlights.

“We know what to expect from both the opposition and the surroundings,” said Frost. “It is a good 4G pitch over there and that will suit their passing game as much as it will ours, so we will need to be on our game and take nothing for granted if we are to pick up the three points.”