GRAVESEND and Northfleet have been handed a plumb FA Cup first round draw against Nationwide League, Division 2 high-fliers Huddersfield. Fleet were paired with the Yorkshire club following an impressive 2-0 victory at Unibond Northern League Premier Division leaders Burton in the final qualifying round on Saturday

Fleet manager Andy Ford is now preparing to face a side who were playing Division 1 football last season. "I would have preferred a home draw for our supporters because it is going to be a long trip for them," said Ford, whose side also faced Football League opposition at this stage last season when they went down 3-2 to Notts County at the Priestfield Stadium.

"From our point of view there are two ways of looking at it. We have done well out of the cup run financially and the gate up there will be good which will mean more money. I am not being defeatist but, if we were looking to go another round, then a home draw against another side would have been better.

"I'm looking at promotion as the priority, and we would have liked a cup run which we have achieved. But I don't like losing football matches, so we will go there and give it a good shot."

First half goals by Che Stadhart and Steve McKimm gave Fleet victory over a Burton side managed by former England international Nigel Clough and including his ex-England team-mate Des Walker. Ford paid tribute to his players after the win and claimed their opponents possibly underestimated them.

"I don't know if it is just the Cloughie manner, but they didn't seem to have a set routine like us before the game," he said. "Nigel was in the boardroom at 2.45pm drinking coffee and he was on the bench. Maybe he was taking something out of his father's book of doing things.

"I got the impression they took us lightly. I don't know if I'm right in that or not."

Victory over Burton earned Fleet £20,000 to go with the £10,000 they received for beating Dartford in the previous qualifying round.

A win at Huddersfield would see them bank another £20,000. The tie will take place on the weekend of November 17 and 18.

Folkestone Invicta will be away to Nationwide League Division 2 side Reading if they can beat Welling in a replay. Both Margate and Dover were knocked out of the competition on Saturday.