A goal by Jack Morrow early in the second half ensured that a memorable season ended in the best possible fashion, as Avro won promotion to step 4 of the non league pyramid for the first time in their history.
Manager Alex Frost made one change from the side which had secured the runners up spot the previous weekend with a 4-0 win against Barnoldswick Town. Louis Potts was unavailable on his first full day of life as a married man, so Tom Bentham came in up front to replace him.
The opening stages of the encounter were predictably tense, but as the half wore on, the visitors began to control the game, forcing a succession of corners and penning the home side back in their own half. They were rewarded for their efforts with a goal on the half hour mark, when Bentham volleyed home at the far post to mark his debut in style.
However, Lincoln were back on level terms by the break after Kane Wallwork was adjudged to have fouled Leo Priestley in the area, and top scorer Matthew Cotton converted the spot kick to make it 1-1. The home side came out strongly after the interval, but they soon found themselves behind again when Michael Afuye teed up Morrow, and the midfielder scored only his third ever goal for the club with a low drive past Steggles.
There followed an aerial bombardment for the last half hour as the hosts tried in vain to find an equaliser, but keeper Grant Shenton called into action just once to keep out a header which was heading for the top corner. When Whites full back Harry Millard fired over in injury time from the edge of the area, the celebrations began amongst the hordes of travelling fans who made the journey east.
Moments later the referee called an end to the most momentous season in the club’s history, with an outcome that was no more than a distant dream last July. Avro will now begin the 2023-24 season in the Northern Premier League for the first time in their history in what will be only their fourth full season in semi-professional football.
