Norwich City (0) 2 Russell 70, Nelson 78
Gillingham (0) 0
Att. 25,227
Entrance: £26
Programme: £3
Mileage: 294/7,320
Match Report
We arrived as the sacrificial lambs to the slaughter in Norwich City’s championship celebration but, for 70 minutes, well and truly pooped on their parade. If Dennis Oli’s finishing had been a tad more clinical, or perhaps more fairly, Fraser Forster’s keeping not been top drawer then it could have been the travelling support with reason to party.There was a vibrant atmosphere prior to kick off with the home support giving a rousing response to the match announcer’s cues. What they were singing is anybody’s guess but they were certainly loud.
Jack Payne continued to deputise for Barry Fuller as Mark Stimson opted to start with the same side that had virtually started last Saturday against Leeds.
The first half went by with very little to scare the visitors. The bloke from Coldplay lifted a free kick over the bar, but Payne rendered Anthony McNamee to such an ineffective role that he was substituted at half time and even Grant Holt was being contained with relative ease. The thunderous party atmosphere was being reduced to something more funereal.
Following an early second half opportunity for Chris Martin, Gillingham suddenly found themselves opening up their hosts almost at will for a golden ten minute period. Rene Howe, who worked tirelessly, sent Oli clear on goal, cutting in from the right hand side. The striker made good contact but Forster had covered his angles well and parried the ball to semi safety with Andy Barcham just a couple of yards from the rebound.Barcham then pulled a shot wide before a long Danny Jackman pass found Howe who wriggled his way along the line before pulling the ball back to Oli whose shot was saved by Forster at the second attempt. When Jackman shot over, the Carrow Road party had fallen as flat as a Delia soufflé.
But as is always said in these situations, chances have to be taken when you are on top and Gillingham had spurned their opportunity. It was somewhat sad, perhaps almost inevitable, that the turning point in the game would be as the result of an individual error and that the guilty party would be Adam Miller. The midfielder, maintaining his recent good form, dwelt on the ball and was dispossessed by Daryl Russell who let fly from 20 yards. The ball cannoned down off the underside of the bar and although cleared to safety by Darren Dennehy, the linesman adjudged that the ball had crossed the line.
It was an unfortunate break that Gillingham had not deserved, but eight minutes later the party could begin in earnest as a straightforward corner was met by Michael Nelson who powered a header home from close range.
Paul Scally stated this week, that in terms of cash, there is little difference being in League Two as League One, but for the fans it is the big days out at places like Carrow Road that would be missing from the calendar next season should the worse happen. The away support that had sold its full allocation in the sell-out crowd were given an end block in the Jarrold Stand that gave a difficult viewing position diagonally across the pitch.
Results elsewhere leave the spectre of a last day shoot out at Adams Park looming large. But if, next weekend, those lovely people from up the Old Kent Road can win at Tranmere and Gillingham can produce another of their odds-defying performances at Priestfield against a Southampton side with no longer any interest in the play-off positions, then last day nerves can be avoided. Something tells me that it cannot be that easy. There is also the possibility that whoever loses their final games by the least amount may determine whether its Gillingham or Exeter that make the drop as the Devon side lead the Gills by just a single goal.
There’s a party on offer at Wycombe, it needs to be ours.
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