Both sides made wholesale changes to the two line-ups that contested a 1-1 draw at krbs Priestfield ten days ago with Mark McCammon returning to lead the Gills attack.

The home side were the first to carve out a chance of note in the sixth minute of the match. Rooney robbed McVeigh on the right touchline and sent Weston clear down the wing, he cut a dangerous ball across the face of goal but Barcham arrived too late at the far post to apply the finish.

In reply Chris Martin lashed a drive over Julians crossbar but the better part of the opening action took place in a crowded midfield as both teams battled fo supremacy. Adam Miller received an early booking for an ill timed challenge on Stephen Hughes while the referee also had words with Jack Payne following an overzealous tackle.

On the half hour Norwich had their best chance of the half as Tom Adeyemi collected a wayward pass and burst through on the right side of goal before rolling a low strike inches wide of Julian's far post.

In the 39th minute McCammon headed on to Weston who in turn fed Rooney on the edge of the box, with Barcham screaming for a pass the youngster chose to go for goal and won a corner with a low effort that Forster pushed round his left hand upright.

First Adeyemi at one end, then Weston at the other saw decent shots blocked as both sides sought a half time advantage. Norwich should have taken it in the 44th minute as Hughes found space on the right to cross but his pass evaded Cureton at the near post and Martin lashed wide from 10 yards with the goal at his mercy.

In added time Gillingham had a fair shout for a penalty rejected as Adam Miller was pushed down when clean through on goal. Then at the opposite end Martin applied a glancing header to McVeigh's free-kick but still the ball refused to go in.

HT 0-0

Shortly after the restart Tom Adeyemi should have done better with a free header from Paul McVeigh's free-kick which he glanced well wide of the far post. Then in the 53rd minute Chris Palmer swung a curling free-kick into the box from the right of the City half which Barcham sliced over at the near post.

Just after the hour Mark Stimson introduced Stuart Lewis and Rashid Yussuff, the former to warm applause as the Gills switched to a more attacking formation with Barcham and Weston pushing into forward roles.

Moments later it was the Canaries sub Cody McDonald that broke the deadlock, racing into the box on the left of goal before firing a shot that deflected off Richards boot and into the roof of the net.

In the 73rd minute John Nutter got behind the Norwich defence and pulled back for Lewis to let fly with a low drive which hit the heel of Barcham and was cleared to safety. Soon after the Gills were awarded a free-kick on the right edge of the box but Rooney's delivery was too high to trouble keeper Forster.

With time ebbing away Adam Miller collected Barcham's pass and muscled his way towards the box before unleashing a fierce drive that flashed past Forster's right hand post. It would be Miller's last contribution as he was replaced by Jacob Erskine seconds later.

Erskine headed a Palmer corner wide of the near post before Nutter brought a save from Forster with a cross come shot. In the 89th minute Curtis Weston dragged a low strike wide of the right post as the home side finished strongly.

Deep into added time a free-kick on the edge of the D gave the Gills one final sight of goal but Chris Palmer's effort curled wide of the post as Gillingham's efforts went unrewarded.

Attendance: 2814

Gillingham: Alan Julian, Chris Palmer, Garry Richards, Mark Bentley, John Nutter, Luke Rooney, Curtis Weston, Jack Payne (Stuart Lewis 64), Adam Miller (Jacob Erskine 83), Andy Barcham, Mark McCammon (Rashid Yussuff 64).

Subs not used: Kevin Maher, Tom Wynter.

Norwich City: Fraser Forster, Stephen Hughes, Jamie Cureton, Gary Doherty (David Stephens 70), Chris Martin (Cody McDonald 62), Tom Adeyemi, Paul McVeigh (Josh Dawkins 78), Rhoys Wiggins, Luke Daley, George Francomb, Jens Berthel Askou

Sub not used: Dan Kelly.