Blues Res 1 - Man Utd Res 0
A good through ball from Swierczewski was met sweetly by John whose first time turn and shot was saved by the left foot of United keeper Roy Carroll.
Six minutes later John came close again with an effort from outside the box that was deflected for a corner by a United defender.
Blues suffered a major blow on 30 minutes when Michael Johnson, the last Blues defender, was dismissed for clearly pulling back the dangerous Nardiello on the edge of the box. Neil woods resulting free kick was well smothered by Blues keeper Ian Bennett at his right hand post.
John once again came close 3 minutes before the break with a stooping near post header after a good cross by Kirovski from the right.
John once again came close 3 minutes before the break with a stooping near post header after a good cross by Kirovski from the right.
A quite entertaining first half, spoilt somewhat by a very fussy referee, ended goalless.
Fagan was booked on 48 minutes after a late challenge on Fletcher, this coming just momentss after United had an appeal for a penalty waived away when Coly seemed to clip Nardiello in the box as the United striker was about to shoot.
Grainger, playing in his first competitive game since the FA cup tie at Fulham in January, was replaced after an hour by Capaldi.
The visitors came close to opening the scoring on 66 minutes when a good move resulted in Nardiello meeting Stewarts near post cross from the right but fortunately for Blues his shot went just wide of Bennetts left hand post.
United began to make the extra man count and Blues struggled to make any clear cut chances, a poor effort from Kirovski from just outside the box after a good flick from Hughes, being their only chance of a disappointing second half performance - although in fairness they were a man lighter.
United had a great chance to nick it eight minutes from time when Bennett blocked Nardiello's shot from 12 yards with his legs and just into stoppage time the same player put a header wide from six yards out.
Right against the run of play Blues scored - two minutes into stoppage-time. Hughes met a right wing cross from Luntala and his miss-hit shot from six yards out went straight across goal to be met by Barrowman who scored with a simple tap-in
Blues: Bennett, Coly, Grainger (Luntala,60), Johnson, Vickers, Hughes, Kirovski, Carter, John (Luntala, 45), Fagan (Barrowman,81), Swierczewski. Subs from: Capaldi, Luntala, Barrowman, Gilbert, Doyle.
United: Carroll; Lynch, Roche, Pugh, Hilton; Davis, Fletcher, Stewart, Wood (Fox, 64), Webber (Williams, 83), Nardiello. Subs: Heath, Jowsey, Fox, M Williams.
Referee: Martin Harris ( Lincoln)
