AN inspired second-half substitution from City boss Paul Lambert saw Cody McDonald fire City into the area quarter-final of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy with a 1-0 win over Gillingham this evening.
The City boss introduced McDonald to the fray on the hour-mark and within four minutes the former Dartford man put City into the lead. McDonald picked the ball up down the Gillingham left and broke into the area before turning his man and dispatching a powerful shot past Gills 'keeper Alan Julian.
A much-changed City side ended the match with six Academy products on the pitch on a night that saw first-team debuts for George Francomb, David Stephens and Josh Dawkin. Summer signing Rhoys Wiggins also made his debut.
City will now await the draw for the area quarter-finals which will take place on Saturday morning on Sky's Soccer AM programme.
After the match a delighted Paul Lambert told First News: "It was absolutely terrific, the young boys came in and did terrific for us."
City came close to taking the lead at the end of the first half and much like last week's League One win over Leyton Orient, patience was the key for City who are now building momentum in both League One and the JPT.
"We should have had one or two in the first half we could have been two up," said Lambert. "I'm a great believer that if you are in a competition then you are in it to win it and we did what we had to tonight."
CELEBRATIONS: Sub Cody McDonald celebrates scoring
the only goal of the game at Priestfield Stadium
The number of Academy players ending the match was a big plus point and one Lambert was quick to acknowledge.
"I'd love to know what the average age was out there but I think Doc (Gary Doherty) takes it up! But I'm delighted for all the young boys they deserved it.
"Collectively as a group they've done well. It was a great win for us."
Final Score: Gillingham 0 Norwich City 1
90+4: City break down right with Dawkin and Daley. Whistle blows - City are through to the JPT area quarter-final! Draw is on Saturday morning on Soccer AM on Sky Sports 1.
90+2: City can't get hold of the ball at the minute. Askou adjudged to have handled about 20 yards out, free-kick by Chris Barber which whistles just wide.
90th: Good ball out to Dawkin by McDonald but the youngster is just challenged before he can make a break. Four minutes of added time announced.
89th: Gillingham keeping good possession in this last part of the game. Curtis Weston again causing problems, turning and placing a shot just wide of Forster's right-hand post.
86th: The Gills putting the City defence under some late pressure with another corner - their substitutes looking to make the same impact McDonald did for the Canaries, but unable to find a way through ans Askou again clears his lines.
84th: Gillingham corner which escapes everyone and goes out for a City throw-in.
83rd: Jacob Erskine replaces Adam Miller for Gillingham.
82nd: Good chance for the home side - Adam Miller flashing a shot wide.
79th: Curtis Weston breaks through in to the Canaries' penalty area but is deemed offside with only Forster to beat.
78th: Another City debutant, Welsh youth international Josh Dawkin coming on for Paul McVeigh. That's now six Norwich Academy products on the pitch tonight!
77th: Francomb gets a yellow card for kicking the ball away - seemed a little harsh but is the first Canary to go into the ref's book.
74th: Gills free-kick right on the edge of the City box - Adeyemi with a foul on Rooney, who takes himself and puts it well wide of Forster's goal.
73rd: Ball breaks in the box for the Gills but Askou is there to clear the danger.
70th: David Stephens replaces Gary Doherty to make his senior Canary debut. Doc gives the Captain's armband to Jamie Cureton.
67th: Another chance for Cody but this time he couldn't keep his shot down after beating his man down the left.
66th: Cody McDonald picked up the ball down the left hand channel, broke into the box and cut inside his man before smashing the ball past Julian. 1-0 to City!
64th: Lewis replaces Payne and Yussuff replaces McCammon in a double substitution for Gillingham.
61st: Lambert make his first change with Cody McDonald replacing Chris Martin.
60th: Weston is the second Gills played cautioned by the referee after pulling Doherty shirt.
58th: Forster had to be swift off his line to clear a long ball pumped forward for the on-rushing Rooney.
55th: With a strong wind around the Priestfield neither side is able to keep hold of the ball for any great period.
51st: Gills launch a deep free-kick into the City box where Andy Barcham fired over.
49th: Martin links up well with Cureton who just could not shake off his man and get a shot away.
47th: City win a free-kick when Martin is fouled five yards outside the area. McVeigh's ball into the box is met by Adeyemi but headed wide.
46th: The Canaries kick off the second half.
Half-time: Gills 0 Norwich 0
45 + 2: Paul McVeigh's cross from the right is met by Martin and his powerful header goes just over the crossbar.
45th: Big shout for a Gills pen as Doherty tangles with Adam Miller but the referee waves away the claim.
44th: City go close as Hughes plays in Cureton, his effort is blocked and falls to Martin who blasted wide.
43rd: Another great run from Luke Daley sees his clean through on goal but Julian manages to divert him wide before covering defenders crowd the City striker out.
41st: Chances at both ends, firstly Julian blocks an Adeyemi effort at his near post and Gills break up field and Weston's powerful effort charged down by the City defence.
39th: Gills win a corner as Weston's shot is deflected but the resulting flag kick comes to nothing.
38th: Daley pressed forward and played a one-two with Cureton but was unable to get a shot on goal due to a tight angle.
34th: Weston causes problems for City but Doherty is on hand to clear up.
33rd: City win a corner as Daley's header is blocked and ends up in the empty seats. McVeigh's corner is cleared by the Gills defence.
"Sounds like a Sunday league match. We need to get our foot on the ball and keep possession for a bit." ankles50. Not the best game we've ever seen but City getting a little more possession over the last few minutes and a great chance by Adeyemi. Game does need an injection of something although weather not helping.
30th: Best chance of the game so far. Tom Adeyemi pounces on a loose ball and puts a shot across the Gills' goal which just misses the far post.
27th: Gills have free-kick on left corner of City's box afrer Francomb adjudged to have committed a foul - Luke Rooney's ball is not a good one and it drifts out with no danger to the City defence.
25th: Another injury stoppage - this time Payne in pain!
23rd: City make a break after Adeyemi wins possession in the middle of the field. McVeigh takes it on and passes to Martin on the left who drifts in and has a dig from about 20-yards but is cannons off a defender and Gillingham clear.
20th: City back in possession - Forster with goal kick that finds Martin, he flicks on looking for Cureton but Gills clear the danger.
18th: Stoppage for an injury to Curtis Weston - not quite sure what happened but receiving treatment.
16th: Another foul on Martin and another free-kick to the Canaries. Askou puts long ball looking for Daley to make a run but the wind catches it and it goes out for goal kick.
13th: Nasty looking foul on Stephen Hughes by Adam Miller who is the first name in the referee's notebook. He's received treatment from City physio Simon Spencer and looks like he'll return to play, which he does.
12th: Chris Martin fouled on far left by Richards. McVeigh puts in ball to far post looking for Askou the ball breaks and Luke Daley is deemed to have made a push and it's a Gills' free-kick.
"This will a tough match for City, but good to see the youngsters out? Who is captaining the side?" panomania. Gary Doherty is skipper tonight - one of the more experienced pros on pitch tonight and took armband from Grant Holt when he went off on Saturday.
7th: City's first shot of night, but Chris Martin's effort was well high over Julian's goal.
6th: Another attack by the home side - Luke Rooney from the right, looked offside from where we are but his cross drifts wide of far post with Francomb looking to have it covered.
5th: Gills with run down left through Adam Miller. Cross goes into the box but the forward runner is deemed offside.
2nd: Even possession so far, both teams getting used to the conditions.
Rain is sweeping across the stadium and Gillingham kick-off the game. City fans are housed under cover in the Gordon Road Stand.
Team news from Priestfield Stadium: After Saturday's 5-1 demolision of Bristol Rovers, which saw skipper Grant Holt and defender Michael Spillane withdrawn through injury, City boss Paul Lambert was forced to ring the changes for tonight's Johnstone's Paint Trophy match away at Gillingham.
Lambert has handed first team debuts to Academy scholar George Francomb and summer signing Rhoys Wiggins. They will fill the right-back and left-back positions respectively.
Fraser Forster returns in goal with Declan Rudd away on international duty - his last game for the Canaries was against the Gills in League One, where he was sent off for a foul on Curtis Weston, with Gills' top-scorer Simeon Jackson converting the penalty. Darel Russell who scored the injury-time equaliser for the Canaries in that game just 10 days ago misses tonight's match due to a neck probelm picked up in Saturday's game.
Midfield sees a return for Tom Adeyemi and Stephen Hughes with Korey Smith missing from the line-up. Chris Martin and Jamie Cureton who have both scored in consecutive games will start up-front. Defender David Stephens returns to the bench with 18-year-old Irish youth international Danny Kelly and 17-year-old Josh Dawkin are named as first-team substitutes for the first time.
CITY: Forster, Francomb, Wiggins, Doherty (Stephens 70), Askou, Adeyemi, McVeigh (Dawkin 78), Hughes, Martin (McDonald 60), Cureton, Daley. Sub not used: Kelly.
GILLINGHAM: Julian, Nutter, Richards, Bentley, Palmer, Barcham, Miller (Erskine 83), Weston, Rooney, Payne (Lewis 63), McCammon (Yussuff 64). Subs not used: Maher, Wynter.
Referee: S. Cook.
