Saturday 24 April - League Division One - Report by GillsConnect Man on the Terrace

Gills manager Mark Stimson (above right) put out the same side that finished the 3-2 win against Leeds with young Jack Payne taking the place of injured Gills captain, Barry Fuller at right back. Simeon Jackson was again on the bench and didn’t participate until the 83rd minute.

In fact he was the only Gills sub when possibly Mark should have acted earlier in what was evident, from my point of view, some Gills players suffering from the pressure, the weather and having given everything.

The game started in something of a carnival atmosphere in front of 25,277 that included approximately 1,000 from Medway and beyond. Norwich fans were in expectation of the single point they needed for the Championship and Gills fans wanting points to ease pressure at the other end of the table. It was hot and sunny with coloured beach balls and balloons bouncing their way across the field and into the penalty areas.

Gills gave a solid performance in the first half restricting Norwich to speculative shots off target but being reasonably inventive themselves on a great playing surface.

They were passing the ball around, mostly to feet, but unfortunately without really threatening the Norwich goal. Not that the Canaries were much better in a mostly sterile first half which made fans think of a pre-season friendly then an important Leauge game. Both goalkeepers were virtual spectators.

Gills strikers, Rene Howe (left) and Dennis Oli did manage to keep some possession and cause problems and did create one credible shooting opportunity that was collected by Fraser Forster in the Norwich goal.

It took a full 15 minutes for the Canaries to assert themselves when a crisp free kick from Chris Martin curved just beyond Alan Julian’s right hand angle.

Chris Martin (pictured left) was proving a handful as he raced into the Gills box only to be challenged by Gills captain for the day, Mark Bentley, who just did enough to put him off. Martin’s shot was hurried and went wide of Alan Julian’s right hand post.

Gills got their first corner on 20 minutes, which was a decent delivery by Adam Miller that was missed by everybody including Forster in the Norwich goal but hacked away up field by Michael Nelson.

Incredibly there was 30 minutes on the clock and neither side had registered a shot on target. The 1,000 or so Gills fans were in loud voice singing “Top Of The League – Your Having A Laugh” in a jibe toward the Norwich faithful.

Half time arrived and Gills were more than comfortably holding the League Leaders and many Gills fans around me were thinking that a point or even three were not out of the question.

Both sides started the second half with more purpose and following some early Norwich pressure the Gills entered what was their best period of the match.

In the first minute of the second period Norwich had a free kick about 30 yards out. Darel Russell drove the ball into the Gills area and it took a good header by Jack Payne to clear the lines.

Canaries impressive Chris Martin collected a good pass and easily turned inside John Nutter, ran onto goal, but shot wide of Julian’s left hand post,

The Gills then had a purple patch when the hard working Rene Howe combined with Dennis Oli (top right) who cut inside a Norwich defender and his subsequent shot forced a great saved from Fraser Forster.

Gills fans were in fantastic vocal form singing “The Last Waltz” as the team were more than holding their own against the potential Champions.

Dennis Oli once again created space in the box, committing defenders, and passed a lovely ball to Andy Barcham (bottom right) who curled his shot just wide of the Norwich near post.

Minutes later Andy Barcham run onto another great through ball inside the Norwich defence and through desperate defending he won a corner that was hastily cleared.

Gills were on top at this stage with Norwich on the back foot. Tremendous work followed from Rene Howe who threaded the ball to Dennis Oli but his hard shot was saved by Fraser Forster when he really should have done buried the ball past the Norwich goalie.

Chants of “Championship Team - Your Having A Laugh” taunts from applauding Gills fans that were urging Gills to score the opener. Another Gills attack broke down with a saved shot from Curtis Weston who received a peach of a pass from Danny Jackman.

The game entered the last quarter and gradually Norwich began to be more assertive. The warning signs were there as Gills began to look heavy legged and losing a bit of energy, especially up front with Rene Howe and Dennis Oli looking jaded although Mark Stimson seemingly was not worried on the touchline and was not looking to make any substitutions.

To the many Gills “managers” in the Stands this was looking possibly like a mistake.

Then on 75 minutes disaster as Norwich took an underserved and unexpected lead. Adam Miller unfortunately lost the ball in midfield and from the resulting Norwich attack Darren Dennehy made a great tackle which temporary saved the situation. 

However, a curling ball from Darel Russell (left) cleverly struck to chip over Alan Julian from the edge of the box, hit the bar and apparently dropped down over the line.

Referee Trevor Kettle initially did not give it but after consulting with the linesman awarded the goal despite some Gills players complaining.

This goal released the Norwich tension and they began to take control. A free kick met by an unmarked Gary Doherty was headed just over the bar. This was followed by a Chris Martin effort that was palmed away by Alan Julian for corner.

From the corner Norwich scored their second and killer goal, as far as Gills were concerned, when Michael Nelson had a free unmarked header that bounced down and up into the roof of the net.

Gills folded and were now looking a beaten side but every Gills player gave their all in the game and for more than three quarters they were definitely in with a chance. The Gills still have their League One destiny in their own hands but it looks for all the World that they will have to beat Southampton at Priestfield next Saturday to stand a chance of staying up.

Norwich: Fraser Forster, Michael Nelson, Hughes (Lappin 66 minutes), Gary Doherty, Michael Spillane, Darel Russell, Michael Rose, McNamee (Elliott 46 minutes), Smith, Chris Martin and Grant Holt (Johnson 85 minutes).

Unused Subs: Rudd, Drury, Gill and McVeigh.

Gills: Alan Julian, Jack Payne, Mark Bentley, Darren Dennehy, John Nutter, Adam Miller, Curtis Weston, Danny Jackman (Simeon Jackson 83 minutes), Andy Barcham, Rene Howe and Dennis Oli

Unused Subs: Simon Royce, Kevin Maher, Chris Dickson, Tom Wynter, Chris Palmer and Connor Essam.