A NON-league striker who suffered a head injury during the FA Vase Final is being kept in hospital overnight.

Striker and joint manager George Gaskin had an accidental clash of heads with Newport Pagnell Town’s midfielder Mo Ahmed around 37 minutes into their 3-0 defeat this afternoon.

Gaskin has played a crucial role for the Marigolds this season, scoring the winner in their quarter-final and twice in their semi-final victories over North Shields and Loughborough Students respectively.

The 31-year-old was stretchered off after medical teams attended to him on the pitch. He appeared to be taken off with oxygen.

The Argus: Gaskin scored two in the semi-final vs Loughborough Students. Picture by Chris GregoryGaskin scored two in the semi-final vs Loughborough Students. Picture by Chris Gregory

After the game, Littlehampton confirmed he had gone to hospital for check ups and was “breathing and conscious” while leaving the stadium.

Another update this evening confirmed that he would be kept overnight to be observed.

A spokesman for the club said: “He’s stable, conscious and talking. He’s being kept in overnight for observations.”

After the match, joint manager Mitchell Hand added: “It’s such a shame for George but one thing I would say is if anyone in our team can take that disappointment of missing the match in our team it’s George.

The Argus: Gaskin being stretchered offGaskin being stretchered off

“He’s very thick-skinned, he will be absolutely fine.

“To be honest, it really took the wind out of our sails. The fact he wasn’t moving on the floor, I think it shocked a lot of the players and it was horrible to see.

“It was a really nasty one. I came off at half time just worrying about how he was, I was more worried about how he was in that moment than what was happening on the pitch.

“We just hope and pray that he’s absolutely fine.”

Another update confirmed he was being released from hospital on Monday afternoon, May 23.