Avro manager Alex Frost is looking forward to a busy schedule of league and cup football in the run up to Christmas, but has warned against taking anything for granted despite his side’s promising start to the season, writes Liam Bambridge.

After a two-week break from NWCFL Premier Division action, Ashton Athletic visit the Vestacare Stadium tomorrow afternoon at the start of a run of nine games in the next month.

And Frost has made it clear to his players anything less than their best is unlikely to be rewarded with three points.

“Ashton have definitely improved in recent weeks and picked up some positive results so there cannot be any complacency from our point of view,” he said.

“If our performance levels are not where they should be, we can expect to be disappointed at 5 o’clock tomorrow.”

Frost also believes that by the time the two sides meet again at Brocstedes Park in late November, the picture will be clearer with regard to Avro’s promotion credentials.

“We have started really well, but we have still only played just over a quarter of our fixtures,” he added.

“In a month’s time, we will be very close to halfway through the campaign, and that is the very earliest that any team should be giving serious consideration as to whether they are promotion material.”

The arrival of former Irlam striker Jordan Southworth on a dual registration basis from Skelmersdale United has been welcomed by Frost, who admits that he has been tracking the young forward for some time.

He said: “Jordan is a very good player with great technique - anyone who has seen the goals he’s already scored this season will have been left in no doubt about that.”

He added: “We have an excellent group of lads here, but we are always looking to improve the squad and I am delighted that we have been able to do so on this occasion.”

Avro’s 2-0 win against Chadderton in the Manchester Premier Cup last week means that the club’s long-awaited clash with Bury AFC, originally scheduled for late August, will not take place until the New Year.

Glossop North End will now provide the opposition on Wednesday, November 16, with Stockport Georgians visiting the Vestacare Stadium three days later in the Macron Cup second round on an afternoon when Kendal Town were due to be paying their first ever visit to OL8.

However, Frost is not unduly concerned by these changes.

“Both are home games, so there is no danger of them being postponed on the new dates,” he said.

“Every team wants to avoid a situation where they end up having to play loads of matches into the last two weeks of the season because of bad weather earlier in the year, but luckily with our 4G surface, we do not have to worry about that as much.

“We look forward to playing Bury and Kendal in due course.”