Avro manager Alex Frost refused to be too downbeat about the 2-1 loss to neighbours Ashton United in the semi final of the Frank Hannah Manchester Premier Cup, despite admitting that he was ‘heartbroken’ by the agonising nature of the defeat, writes Liam Bambridge.

The NWCL Premier Division outfit began the evening as massive underdogs against a team from two levels higher up the non league pyramid, but led for more than an hour of the encounter before two goals in the dying embers of the game sealed their fate.

“I am immensely proud of the lads. We couldn’t have asked for any more from them - they gave us everything,” was Frost’s reaction to what was indeed a herculean effort by his side on another night of strong winds and driving rain at the Vestacare Stadium. “I hate to use the word ‘luck’, but I felt like we didn’t get any.”

Frost’s thoughts were echoed by opposing manager Michael Clegg, who later commented on his Twitter account; “Cruel game is football. @AvroFC lads were fantastic tonight and didn’t deserve what they got.”

The opening stages of the game were very even, but the home fans dared to dream of a first ever appearance in the final of this competition when Louis Potts latched onto a through ball from Kyle Harrop and lashed home an unstoppable drive from the right corner of the penalty area on 24 minutes. As the half progressed, the visitors began to turn the screw, and would have been level by the break had it not been for a magnificent save by Josh Ollerenshaw to keep out Michael Brewster’s low drive which looked destined for the bottom corner.

After the interval the favourites kept pushing for the equaliser, but created little by way of clear cut goal scoring opportunities. Meanwhile at the other end Ashton defender John Lufudu had to head off the line and substitute Liam Ellis forced a fine save from keeper Greg Hartley as the minutes ticked by.

Clegg introduced Jack Redshaw and Tom Bentham from the bench as his team went into all out attack mode, a move which Frost admitted was to prove decisive. ‘When you have players of that calibre who you can bring on when you are chasing the game, that is always going to make it extra tough for the opposition. I feel like their introduction stretched us just that little bit too far.’

And so it proved, with Florian Yonsian netting from close range as the game entered injury time, before Ben Hardcastle grabbed the winner in the second of the additional minutes. Ashton go on to face Hyde in the final, whilst Frost has now challenged Avro to pick themselves up from this huge disappointment to finish the league season on a high.

“Right now the lads are physically and mentally shattered, and we have another big game against a very strong Wythenshawe Town side on Saturday. However, you work hard all season to be involved in games like this that matter towards the end of it, so once we’ve got over tonight, we’ll be ready for them, and we’re really looking forward to it.”