Champions Norwich City proved too strong for a spirited Gillingham, running out 2-0 winners in the sunshine at Carrow Road.

Mark Stimson selected Jack Payne to fill the right back role vacated by influential skipper Barry Fuller who sits out the encounter with a broken nose picked up in the opening seconds of last week's defeat of Leeds United.

Gillingham contained their hosts well in the opening ten minutes, visitor's keeper Alan Julian more concerned with bursting the balloons drifting over from the Barclay Stand, than by the efforts of the Canaries attack, though Michael Nelson gave a timely warning, heading just over from McNamee's ninth minute corner.

On 16 minutes a foul by Bentley on Holt presented Norwich with a sight of goal, Chris Martin took responsibility bending a free-kick around the wall from the left of goal that dropped just the wrong side of Julian's crossbar.

The home side were growing in confidence now and Martin went closer still two minutes later, cutting to the near post before shrugging off the attentions of Bentley and rolling a deft finish wide of the back stick.

As news of a goal for Leeds against MK Dons filtered through to the stands and the early excitement abated, Gillingham began to enjoy a good spell of pressure, thought City continued to look dangerous whenever they broke forward.

In truth, the remainder of the half passed with little incident as the Gills matched their hosts, young Jack Payne in particular performing heroics at the back.

HT 0-0

Chris Martin pulled a low effort wide of Julian's left hand upright shortly after the interval as Norwich began brightly, but it was Gillingham who came closest to opening the scoring soon after. Howe's ball sending Dennis Oli clear, the pacey striker raced into the box before testing Forster with a low shot that City scrambled to clear at the second attempt.

On 54 minutes, Nutter's long free kick found its way to Oli in the box, he laid-off to Andy Barcham who attempted to curl his finish into the far corner but sadly his effort drifted well wide of the target.

Gillingham were on top now and should have taken the lead two minutes later when Jackman's pass sent Howe into the box on the right of goal. The powerful striker stayed on his feet to tee up Oli but Forster was down well to hold his low shot.

Danny Jackman pulled a rising drive wide from the left edge of the box as the visitors continued to hold their own. Though Grant Holt showed their was still life in the hosts on 65 minutes firing wide of the far post after controlling a long punt forward on his chest.

The deadlock was finally broken on 73 minutes as Adam Miller surrendered possession deep in the Gillingham half, Darel Russell took advantage and lobbed Alan Julian from the edge of the box, his finish cannoning off the crossbar and over the line before Dennehy was able to clear.

Eight minutes from time, the home side doubled their advantage as Michael Nelson rose unmarked to head home Simon Lappin's corner and secure the League One title for Norwich.

Attendance: 25,227

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

Subs not used: Simon Royce, Kevin Maher, Chris Palmer, Connor Essam, Chris Dickson, Tom Wynter.

Norwich City: Fraser Forster, Michael Nelson, Stephen Hughes (Simon Lappin 66), Grant Holt (Oli Johnson 85), Gary Doherty, Michael Spillane, Chris Martin, Darel Russell, Michael Rose, Anthony McNamee (Stephen Elliott 46), Korey Smith.

Subs not used: Declan Rudd, Adam Drury, Mathew Gill, Paul McVeigh.