Avro manager Alex Frost admitted to feeling euphoric after his side sealed promotion to the Northern Premier League for the first time in their history with a 2-1 success at Lincoln United in their inter step play-off final, writes Liam Bambridge.
The prize for finishing runners up in the North West Counties Premier League the previous weekend was a one off game at the home of a step 4 team looking to avoid being relegated.
However, the visitors dominated the encounter and were worthy winners, with Jack Morrow scoring the winner early in the second half after Whites top scorer Matthew Cotton’s penalty had earlier cancelled out Tom Bentham’s opener for the Ro.
“It’s an amazing feeling, one that is hard to put into words right now,” said Frost. “We have worked so hard to have this historic opportunity to go higher than this club has ever gone before. There were times when I honestly didn’t think we would be contesting this final, but in the end we did enough to make it here, and I am so pleased with our performance today.
“Obviously in a way it didn’t matter how we won the game as long as we did, but I thought we were excellent from start to finish.
“I have been able to say that plenty of times before this season, but to do so again in a game of this magnitude says everything about this group of players.”
Bentham’s goal on his Avro debut was emphatic, a volley from close range into the roof of the net, while Morrow’s decisive strike was his first of the season and only his third for the club in over 100 appearances.
“I am delighted for both of them’, said Frost. “Tom has come in essentially to help us out, as we knew that Louis Potts would be unavailable for this one, and he has played with the same drive and commitment as if he had been here all season.
“Jack has been an absolute rock at the heart of our midfield over the last eight months, he has been involved in over 50 games for us, so for me it is fitting that he should score the most important goal in the club’s history.
“But both of them would be quick to say that this win was not about individuals - it was a fantastic team effort, and a success that we thoroughly deserved.”
The promotion is Avro’s third in only four full seasons of football, they were competing in the Manchester League as recently as the 2017-18 campaign. However, Frost is bullish about the daunting challenge which awaits them in August.
“We have to aim for promotion. We have just got out of an incredibly tough league, and we know that we are going to have to raise our performance levels even higher if we want to compete at the top end of the table again next season.
“However, I see no point in looking to consolidate - we want to push on and build on the incredible momentum which this club has generated over the last five years.
“We have a fantastic team both on and off the pitch here, and we will continue to reach for the sky.”
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