Rene Howe closes in on the Norwich goal Picture: Matthew Walker

by Luke Cawdell

Two late goals condemned Gillingham to defeat at newly-crowned League 1 champions Norwich on Saturday.

A spirited Gillingham performance was undone deep into the game as Norwich made the visitors pay for not taking their chances earlier in the match.

Home keeper Fraser Forster had to make two impressive saves with the scores goalless.

Norwich took a 74th minute lead with a goal from Darel Russell, despite the Gills starting the second half on the ascendancy.

A second goal eight minutes later from a corner wrapped up the win for the home side.

Gills boss Mark Stimson said: “We’re very disappointed and we were on top for 65 to 70 minutes of the game.

“Their keeper pulled off another fantastic save and I know last week he pulled off three or four saves.

“We put in a good shift, but to concede the first goal was a big blow. It’s disappointing because for 70 minutes we were good for a point.

“Goals change games. They scored one and they hadn’t many chances before that.”

The hosts, who needed just a point to wrap up the championship, were denied a shot on target in the opening 45 minutes. They were restricted to a free-kick from Chris Martin that went narrowly over and a shot from the same player which went wide.

Norwich’s 30-goal leading scorer Grant Holt was barely given a sniff in the first half by a Gillingham defence who have been far from sound away from home this season.

Teenager Jack Payne was chosen to fill the right-back berth, to replace injured skipper Barry Fuller, and he was the stand out player for the Gills in the opening half. Norwich pulled off their ineffective winger Anthony McNamee at the break as a result.

Up front the Gills were posing problems without really penetrating the Norwich defence. Mark Stimson’s side were also unable to find a shot on target before the interval, but Rene Howe did head just wide in stoppage time.

The Gills had the first on target shot in the match when Dennis Oli burst forward early in the second half, but his effort was saved by Forster.

Moments later more trickery in the box from Oli was rewarded with a shot for Andy Barcham, but he was unable to find the target.

It was Howe’s turn to embarrass the Norwich defence on 57 minutes and, after beating two men, his cross was turned goalwards by Oli but Forster was there to save again.

Gills remained in charge and on the hour Danny Jackman crashed a shot just wide.

A rare chance for the home side on 65 minutes failed to test keeper Alan Julian as Holt fired wide.

All of Gillingham’s good work was undone in the 74th minute when Russell cut inside, after Adam Miller was dispossessed, and smashed in a shot from underside the bar.

The Gills conceded a second goal eight minutes from time when Michael Nelson headed home from a corner, to seal the League 1 title for Norwich.

Gills: Julian, Payne, Nutter, Bentley, Dennehy, Jackman (Jackson 83mins), Miller, Weston, Barcham, Oli, Howe. Subs not used: Royce, Maher, Palmer, Essam, Dickson, Wynter.

Norwich: Forster, Nelson, Hughes (Lappin 67mins), Doherty, Spillane, Russell, Rose, McNamee (Elliott 46mins), Smith, Martin, Holt (Johnson 86mins). Subs not used: Rudd, Drury, Gill, McVeigh.

Attendance: 25,227