Charles Banya spent the night in hospital after suffering concussion in Maidstone’s 3-1 win over Basingstoke.

Banya was knocked out by a challenge from Town keeper Aaron Howe, an hour into Saturday’s game.

The Stones winger briefly got to his feet before leaving the field on a stretcher to warm applause from concerned fans.

He was taken to Pembury by ambulance, with doctors keeping him in overnight.

Stones chief executive Bill Williams said: "From our medical team to the paramedics and A&E staff, I would like to offer my sincere thanks for the way in which they handled this situation.

"I know everyone will join me in wishing Charles a speedy recovery and we look forward to seeing him back on the pitch in the near future."

Maidstone were leading 2-1 through goals from James Rogers and Dumebi Dumaka when Banya was clattered by Howe.

The referee awarded a penalty - scored by Vas Karagiannis - but Howe escaped punishment.

Maidstone boss Jay Saunders said: "I just can’t see how he’s not been sent off. If you’re giving a penalty, he’s the last man, he’s knocked it round the keeper, the lad’s knocked him out. I don’t get it. To not even get a booking is a strange one but there you go.

“He kind of carried on walking for a bit, Charles, and then he completely passed out and you could see by their players’ reaction he wasn’t in a good place.

“He was just coming into the game as well. I’d had a bit of a pop at him at half-time because I didn’t think he was being positive enough. Second half he was starting to cause some problems and then that happens. We wish him well.”

Maidstone have opened up a 10-point cushion on sides outside the National South play-offs after beating bottom side Basingstoke.

Saunders wasn’t all that impressed with the display but had only one thing on his mind after conceding twice in an injury-time at Havant last week.

He said: "When you’ve lost the game as we did last week, it was important we got three points on the board and we’ve done that.

"The overall performance I wasn’t overly happy with but we got three points and that was the main thing.

"First half we looked a bit sloppy. We got an early goal which I thought might settle us down a bit but I think we struggled a bit to get used to their shape.

“They came here, played five across the back and we struggled to deal with it slightly.

"I said at half-time it wasn’t good enough and we had to be a bit more positive and get in their faces a little bit more.

“To be fair, second half we started well, got a good goal and in the end it was quite comfortable but I just feel we’ve been better in recent weeks.”