Avro manager Alex Frost has challenged his side to replicate their tremendous first half of the season, after a 1-0 success at Litherland REMYCA secured a 15th win in 21 league games to keep them third in the NWCFL Premier Division table, writes Liam Bambridge.

New signing Jamie Rother made his debut less than 24 hours after completing his move from Ramsbottom United, but with Michael Afuye and Max Davidson both missing because of injury and illness respectively, Frost was shorn of two of his match winners in recent weeks.

It took a close range effort from on loan defender Courtney Meppen-Walter early in the second half to break the home side’s stubborn resistance, and a helping hand from keeper Grant Shenton’s right hand post to deny Anthony Williams an equaliser soon afterwards in a game of precious few goal scoring opportunities.

“It was not the best game of football I have ever watched,” said Frost. “The playing surface made it very difficult for both sides to pass the ball as well as they would have liked, so it became a bit of a slog to be honest.

“But if you want to be successful in any league, these are the kinds of games that you need to win. We were not at our best today, but we dug in and once we had got in front, we worked really hard to hang on to our lead.

“It has been a brilliant first four months, but it will count for nothing if we are unable to build on it going forward.”

Rother’s arrival is a timely boost to the promotion chasing outfit, with Frost admitting that he had been hoping to sign him for some time.

“Jamie and I both joined Ramsbottom at the same time halfway through the 2014-15 season, but he has stayed there a bit longer than me,” said Frost.

“We really appreciate their cooperation when it became clear that he was available, and we are delighted that he has agreed to join us - he is a born winner and we believe that he will fit in really well here.”

The second half of the campaign begins tomorrow evening, when Kendal Town pay their first ever visit to the Vestacare Stadium, with the two sides playing the return fixture just ten days later in the Lake District.

“They are on a tremendous run at the moment, so their league position is really misleading,” added Frost.

“It is a long way to be travelling for a midweek fixture, so they will be particularly determined to make it worth their while. But I am confident that we will be ready for them.”