The Sky Blues overcame Walsall 3-2 last night to win the Birmingham Senior Cup at the Bescot Stadium.

First half goals from Chris Birchall and Andrew Whing gave City a 2-0 lead but just before half-time, the Saddlers pulled two goals back. The game went into extra time and a penalty from Birchall secured a 3-2 victory for the Sky Blues.

Steve Ogrizovic opted for a blend of youth and experience by naming Birchall, Whing and Luke Steele alongside a number of promising youngsters.

The Sky Blues started the game brightly and were unlucky not to take the lead on 17 minutes when Dale Jones whipped in an excellent cross into the penalty area and the oncoming Lee Hildreth directed his header just wide.

City were beginning to create a plethora of chances and on the half hour mark, Birchall latched on to a through ball from Whing and poked the ball past Rene Gilmartin.

Six minutes later the Sky Blues doubled their lead when a Birchall free-kick was spilled by Gilmartin and Whing pounced to stab the ball home.

Just before the half-time interval Walsall clawed their way back into the game when Troy Deeney netted in quick succession to make the score 2-2.

The second-half began at an electric pace and City should have taken the lead again when Birchall's header hit the post.

Both sides went in search of a winning goal but neither side could their convert chances and the match went into extra-time.

In the 103^rd minute, Birchall went on a darting run in the penalty area and was tripped just inside the box and referee Murphy correctly awarded a penalty. The Trinidad and Tobago calmly converted the spot kick to make the score 3-2.

The Saddlers went in search of an equaliser and Whing heroically twice cleared off the line for City to lift the Cup for the first time since 1923.

Coventry City: Steele; Jones (Fitzharris, 101); Lynch; Hildreth; Bunce; Francis (Burgess, 115); Whing; Gooding; West; Birchall; Burtoft (Ashraf, 81)

Subs Not Used: Collett; Ritchie

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