Manager Ben Smith is happy enough with Ramsgate’s FA Cup draw as they chase a place in the First Round Proper for the first time in 18 years.

Rams avoided the National League big boys in Monday’s Final Qualifying Round draw and instead will travel to AFC Totton on October 14.

Their opponents are eighth in Southern League Premier South - the level above Ramsgate - and while Smith makes his side underdogs, they travel with a genuine chance of progressing.

Ramsgate moved to within 90 minutes of the First Round after a 2-1 victory over Frome at Southwood on Saturday.

“It’s a winnable draw, isn’t it?” said Smith.

“We’ve knocked out two teams at that level (Isthmian Premier sides Chatham and Cray).

“With a place in the First Round at stake, I can’t see Totton taking us lightly, and we’re not going to be a surprise package to anyone at this stage, but it’s a winnable tie.

“We’re underdogs, with an opportunity.

“I’d be lying if I said AFC Totton weren’t on my list of teams I wanted.

“You go down the list of teams of who would be potentially more winnable than others and obviously they’d be on that list, as much as we’re underdogs.

“We could have been out of the competition and listening on the radio to Margate, or someone else, in the draw.

“That would have been a lot worse, wouldn’t it?”

Early substitute Benny Bioletti - on for the injured TJ Jadama - put Ramsgate in front against Frome and Jack Parter doubled the lead before a last-minute goal for the visitors.

“I thought we were good value for the win,” said Smith.

“We were neck-and-neck in the first half but we just wore them down and in the end they were knackered.

“We picked them off and we should have had a few more goals.

“When they got one back, you’re half thinking, ‘Here we go’.

“They were a good side, to be fair, but we had enough about us.”

Ramsgate host Isthmian South East rivals Sheppey in the FA Trophy Final Qualifying Round this Saturday (3pm).

Jadama (back) and Bioletti (hamstring) are injury concerns, joining Jordan Green in the treatment room, but Smith is set to rotate anyway, with the FA Cup in mind.

“Our priority is the league and FA Cup,” said Smith.

“We’ll do what we’ve been doing in the other cup games and get the young lads some experience.

“We’ll put a team out that’s right for Ramsgate.

“We’ve got to look after ourselves and have in mind we’ve got the FA Cup coming up next week and then a run of league games, which is our bread and butter.

“We’ve only played three league games and other teams are picking up points, so it starts to become more difficult for us.

“That’s the drawback of these cup competitions, which is a shame because I think we could have played more midweek games earlier in the season.

“Other leagues did, so it’s strange really, but it is what it is and we have to get over it.

“I’ll possibly have to bring in a couple of players to bolster the squad because we’ll be playing Saturday-Tuesday for a long time.”

A young Ramsgate side lost 7-1 at home to Cray Valley in the Kent Senior Cup First Round on Wednesday last week.

Sixteen-year-old Tristan Holden scored the consolation.