SECOND-HALF strikes from Darel Russell and Michael Nelson ended the stubborn resistance of Gillingham and confirmed Norwich City as Coca-Cola League One champions in front of a packed and jubilant Carrow Road.
Darel Russell broke the deadlock in the 74th minute with a curling effort in off the bar for his second goal of the season - ironically his first was in the reverse fixture at the Priestfield Stadium.
And the hero of last weekend's win at The Valley, Michael Nelson, was in the right place at the right time again to net with a thumping 83rd-minute header from Simon Lappin's corner to cement the three points.
After the game there were great scenes as the squad and coaching staff acknowledged and thanked the supporters for their fantastic backing for the Club this season.
City boss Paul Lambert said: "I'm so delighted for the players and the fans, it's been an amazing turnaround when you consider they only had one point from their first three games when we started.
"The lads have been magnificent throughout, I can't praise them highly enough for what they've achieved and they fully deserve the plaudits. The fans too, they've been incredible, it doesn't matter whether you're home or away, they are there in huge numbers and making loads of noise.
"The scenes after the game today were brilliant but I think it will really sink in properly when we lift the trophy. I'm really looking forward to that because I think it will be a special moment for everyone at the Club."
Before the game the Carrow Road crowd gave a warm ovation to servicemen from the Royal Anglians, Light Dragoons and RAF Marham as they lined up on the pitch to welcome both sets of players. The soldiers and air force personnel had been invited by the Norwich City Board to attend today's game in recognition of the continuing efforts and sacrifices of the Armed Forces in conflicts abroad.
A contingent of Royal Anglians then led the communal signing of On The Ball City as the fans geared up for what they hoped would be the game that confirmed some silverware for the Canaries.
But despite the party atmosphere in the build-up, the game itself was slow in getting going and neither goal was seriously threatened until the 16th minute, when Chris Martin tried his luck with a curling 22-yard free-kick which flew just over the bar.
Within the space of a minute he had another chance, this time chesting down a long ball from Korey Smith well before dragging an angled shot narrowly wide of the far post.
In the 28th minute Anthony McNamee's corner was only cleared as far as Darel Russell, but his first-time shot from 18 yards was wide of the target as City continued to find goal-scoring opportunities at a premium.
After an uneventful first half, Lambert responded by making a change at the interval, Stephen Elliott coming on to replace McNamee.
Within a couple of minutes of the restart Chris Martin cut inside his man well from the right of the Gills area but pulled his low shot a couple of feet wide of the near post.
At the other end the visitors had the best opening of the game so far as Dennis Oli raced into the City area and shot goalwards only to be denied by a fine save from Fraser Forster, parrying the ball and allowing Doherty to hoof clear.
And in the 57th minute Forster was called into action again as Howe jinked in along the byeline before teeing up Oli and his bobbling effort from seven yards forced a smart stop from the on-loan Newcastle 'keeper.
Two minutes later John Nutter's cross eventually fell to Danny Jackman but he sliced his shot from the edge of the area a few feet wide of the upright.
City skipper Holt nearly carved out a goal for himself in the 63rd minute, nodding Spillane's deep ball down into space and then cracking a right-foot half-volley narrowly wide.
Lambert then made his second change of the match, bringing on Simon Lappin for Stephen Hughes on the left-hand side of midfield.
But as the game entered the 74th minute City at last took the lead to get one hand on the League One trophy.
Substitute Stephen Elliot's glancing header seemed to be blocked by the out-stretched arm of defender Darren Dennehy - but while the Norwich fans were still appealing play continued and the ball eventually came to Darel Russell.
From 22 yards out the City midfielder hit a superb curling effort which bounced down off the crossbar with 'keeper Julian well beaten. Gillingham desperately hacked the ball away but the assistant referee on the City Stand touchline signalled what TV replays soon confirmed - that the ball had comfortably crossed the line.
As the game entered the final ten minutes Michael Nelson was booked for a foul on Howe, although the referee had already given a free-kick to City for a foul by the Gills player on Rose.
Within two minutes however, the Canaries doubled their advantage through that man Michael Nelson. It was virtually a carbon copy of his priceless goal at the Valley last weekend, as he met a sweet Lappin corner with a thunderous downwards header which bulged the net from six yards out.
With under five minutes left, leading scorer Grant Holt left the pitch to a standing ovation as he was replaced by Oli Johnson.
90+2 - The cry of champions rings around Carrow Road as the fans turn to waiting and whistling for the final whistle.
90th - The fourth official signals a minimum of three minutes remaining and Chris Martin chances his arm from the halfway line, but a distance wide.
88th - Darren Dennehy is booked for a late sliding tackle on Chris Martin.
86th - Oli Johnson replaces skipper Grant Holt.
84th - Chris Martin with space in midfield to turn and run at the Gills backline. He opts to take an early shot from 30 yards, which deflects wide for a corner. Lappin again with a good delivery, but City can't make anything of it.
83rd - Simeon Jackson replaces Danny Jackman for Gillingham.
82nd - Just like last week at The Valley, Michael Nelson rises highest to meet a Simon Lappin corner from the right.
81st - Rene Howe fouls Michael Rose inside the City box, but then Nelson goes in late on Howe and is booked for it. Luckily, City had already won the free-kick, otherwise it would have been a penalty since he booked Nelson.
79th - Chris Martin cuts inside from the left and lets fly on his right foot, a slight deflection on the curler, then a strong hand from Alan Julian tips it round the post
76th - Lappin delivers a fantastic dead-ball from the left, which Doherty rises high to meet but narrowly over.
74th - Darel Russell may well have just clinched the title for Norwich City! First a ball in was headed goalwards by Stephen Elliott and looked to hit the outstretched arm of Darren Dennehy. Tackle won just outside the box and the Russell pounched on the loose ball, took a touch to get the ball out of his feet and struck a delightful curling effort, which clipped the underside of the bar, bounced down and out, to be cleared away. The assistant flagged frantically to signal the ball had crossed the line after bouncing down off the crossbar. The replay certainly seemed to confirm it. City lead and that is Darel Russell's second goal of the season. His first? In injury time, away at Gillingham to give City a point.
70th - Curtis Weston is the first player to see yellow this afternoon for a studs up challenge on Darel Russell.
67th - Simon Lappin comes on to replace his fellow countryman Stephen Hughes on the left of the midfield diamond.
65th - Grant Holt looks to bring some magic into the game, he takes down a ball into the box from Spillane. He nods it down and then strikes on the half-volley and has Alan Julian worried but wide of his right-hand post.
61st - Holt is held up down by the corner flag but wins his side a free-kick. Stephen Hughes with the delivery but deep and after some pinball, Gillingham look to break but Doherty breaks it up.
59th - Curtis Weston tees up his midfield partner, the pint-sized Danny Jackman from just over 20 yards, but his slices his shot wide of Forster's right-hand post.
58th - The City Academy side lost 2-1 away at Birmingham City today.
57th - Rene Howe along the touchline, rides a challenge or two and cuts it back for Dennis Oli. From about six yards, he somewhat scuffs his shot and Forster saves to his left.
56th - Barcham wriggles his way around and wins a corner off Spillane's leg. Danny Jackman with the kick, flicked on at the near post by a City player and Smith can clear.
54th - Dennis Oli, Rene Howe and Andy Barcham combine to present the latter with a shooting opportunity, which he curls wide from 16 yards.
52nd - Neat play in midfield, sees Russell try to spring Michael Spillane over the top from right-back, but Andy Barcham had tracked the run all the way to cut out the pass.
51st - Martin is fouled by Curtis Weston, about 25 yards out with Russell standing over the kick. Russell plays it along the ground to Nelson, who flicks it round the corner but through to Julian. It had the look of a training ground routine about it.
49th - There's the first save of the match and it's a good one from Forster, low down to his right after Dennis Oli had carried the ball from the halfway line past Rose and Doherty.
47th - Looks like a return to the diamon with Chris Martin at the point supporting Holt and Elliott. Russell at the base, Hughes left and Smith right. Martin finds himself some space on the edge of the Gills box, works his way inside and has a shot on his left, dragged it wide though of the near post.
46th - So one change at the interval. City kick off attacking the Norwich and Peterborough Stand in this second half. Immediately have a free-kick, which Darel Russell will take from the right. Gillingham defend it well though.
Half-time- Stephen Elliott stands on the touchline, ready and waiting to come on at the start of this second half. It is Anthony McNamee that he replaces, will have to look how that affects the formation.
Half-time - Referee Trevor Kettle brings to an end a fairly uneventful first half. Chris Martin had a couple of chances and Darel Russell one from a corner. I don't think either goalkeeper has had a save to make.
45th - There will be two minutes of added time at the end of the half.
40th - A couple of close offside calls, first against Chris Martin from a Anthony McNamee slide-rule pass and then Darel Russell flagged with a clear run on goal.
37th - Andy Barcham gets away down the left and zips over a cross, which Forster can gather in his six-yard box.
35th - Free-kick to Gillingham for a foul by Darel Russell. Floated in by Adam Miller but into the arms of Fraser Forster.
28th - City keep getting the ball out to McNamee in a few yards of space on the left. He tries to beat Payne on the outside and wins a corner for his efforts. McNamee takes the corner and the ball drops to Darel Russell about 14 yards out but he drags his shot wide of the far post.
24th - Alan Julian has done his best to pop all the balloons, which have come onto the pitch but a couple of beach balls have crept onto the pitch.
23rd - Michael Rose and Curtis Weston are just warned by Kettle for a slight coming together after a foul by Rose.
19th - Corner to Gillingham over on the far side. Adam Miller with the delivery from the left, inswinging Fraser Forster comes to punch but misses and it rolls out of the penalty box and Martin can clear long down the field.
18th - Smith puts Martin in over the top. A lovely chest trap sets himself up for a strike, which he slides across goal looking for the far corner, but just wide.
16th - It's Martin with it and he looks for the curling effort into the far corner but a shade over Julian's bar.
15th - Holt wins a corner on the corner of the penalty area. Chris Martin is liking the look of it, he and McNamee stand over it.
10th - "
9th - Anthony McNamee playing on the left of midfield teasing young Jack Payne at right-back, not his natural position. This time McNamee wins a corner as Darren Dennehy turns his cross behind. Number 24 - McNamee will take and Michael Nelson rises highest to win the header, narrowly over Alan Julian's bar but referee Trevor Kettle adjudged some pushing down by Nelson on his marker anyway.
7th - A cross in from the left from Rose, is flicked round the corner by Grant Holt looking for Korey Smith, but a touch too hard and I'm not sure Smith was expecting it.
4th - A fantastic atmosphere inside the stadium, the fans in full voice, even if the start of the match has been slow.
1st - Gillingham kick off, with City attacking the Barclay Stand in this first half. City throw-in and Michael Rose causes panic in the box with a long ranger, flying past a few heads.
Grant Holt returns to skipper the side in one of four changes for City. Also starting are Michael Rose, Korey Smith and Anthony McNamee. The four to make way are Adam Drury, Russell Martin, Simon Lappin and Oli Johnson:
CITY: Forster, Nelson, Hughes (Lappin 67), Holt (c) (Johnson 86), Doherty, Spillane, C.Martin, Russell, Rose, McNamee (Elliott 46), Smith. Subs not used: Rudd (GK), Drury, Gill, McVeigh.
Gillingham: Julian, Nutter, Bentley (c), Barcham, Miller, Jackman (Jackson 83), Oli, Weston, Payne, Howe, Dennehy. Subs not used: Royce (GK), Maher, Palmer, Essam, Dickson, Wynter.
Referee: Trevor Kettle
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