Ashford United have been handed a plum Kent derby on their return to the Buildbase FA Trophy.

Danny Lye's men, who were Southern Counties East League Premier Division champions last season, will host fellow Bostik South side Sittingbourne on Saturday, October 7.

Ramsgate are also at home, taking on Bostik North opposition in Bury Town, while ThamesmeadTown will host AFC Hornchurch, Greenwich Borough entertain Hanwell Town and VCD Athletic are at home to Bedford Town.

Cray Wanderers will have home advantage against Horsham but the rest of the county's teams will have to travel.

Hythe Town face a trip to Kempston Rovers, with Faversham Town visiting Waltham Abbey and Herne Bay going to Cheshunt.

Bostik Premier side Tonbridge Angels begin their campaign in first round qualifying with a home tie against Heybridge Swifts or Carshalton Athletic on Saturday, October 28.

Margate face a trip to Staines while Folkestone Invicta must also hit the road, after being drawn away to Leiston.

Ashford United will have another home tie, if they get past Sittingbourne, with Bostik Premier side Merstham lined-up to visit Homelands.

Ramsgate, Faversham, Thamesmead and Cray will all be at home if they come through their preliminary round games.

Preliminary round winners will receive £3,000 with the prize fund going up to £3,250 in first round qualifying.

The final takes place at Wembley on Sunday, May 20, 2018.

Buildbase FA Trophy Preliminary round (October 7): Thamesmead v AFC Hornchurch, Greenwich Borough v Hanwell Town, Kempston Rovers v Hythe Town, Ashford United v Sittingbourne, Waltham Abbey v Faversham, VCD Athletic v Bedford Town, Cray Wanderers v Horsham, Cheshunt v Herne Bay, Ramsgate v Bury Town.

First round qualifying (October 28): Hitchin Town v Cheshunt or Herne Bay, Leatherhead v Kempston Rovers or Hythe Town, Ashford United or Sittingbourne v Merstham, Bishop's Stortford v Greenwich Borough or Hanwell Town, Brentwood Town or South Park v VCD Athletic or Bedford Town, Tonbridge v Heybridge Swifts or Carshalton Athletic, Ramsgate or Bury Town v Phoenix Sports or Chalfont St Peter, Cray Wanderers or Horsham v Grays Athletic or Norwich United, Staines Town v Margate, Waltham Abbey or Faversham Town v Dulwich Hamlet, Thamesmead Town or AFC Hornchurch v Brightlingsea Regent, Leiston v Folkestone Invicta.