IT seemed an impossible task.

Redditch United were already two goals down to a Birmingham City Reserves side who looked to be cruising to Birmingham Senior Cup glory midway through the second half.

Then, just as the murmurs of defeat mounted, Scott Rickards scored one of the scrappiest goals of his career on 72 minutes and the game swung into the hands of the Valleymen.

All it took then was for Blues keeper Jake Meredith to make a gaff and let in Rickards for the easiest goal of his career ten minutes later and the Reds fans among the 1,500-strong crowd were looking forward to 30 minutes more action as extra time loomed.

Tension mounted in favour of the team in red and four minutes before the full 90 minutes substitute Rory May made sure of United's only silverware of the season with his right foot strike following man of the match Sean Flynn's delicately headed pass.

The Birmingham City Reserves might not have brought their big guns of Darren Anderton and Robbie Blake but they had enough in their team to see off the Reds in a first half master class.

Redditch-based players James Blake, Peter Till and Mathew Birley all started for the visitors and it was Birley who made an immediate impact.

Blues hitman Oliver Allen beat the Reds offside trap on 14 minutes, skipped past Sean Flynn and angled his shot past Richard Anstiss in the Reds net. But his shot rebounded off the foot of the post and into the path of the oncoming Birley who headed home.

Seven minutes later and the Blues should have made it two. Tom Parratt's inch-perfect through ball fell to striker Andrew Barrowman who flicked nonchalantly over the oncoming Asa Chalton but saw his shot saved by Anstiss.

Four minutes after that and United were two goals behind as Flynn was dispossessed leaving Allen one on one with Anstiss. This time Allen coolly chipped the oncoming Reds keeper.

Redditch United's Matt Aubrey had a chance to pull one back after half an hour after Simon Hollis' free kick was headed into his path. But the burly frontman lashed his effort wide.

Then in the final minute of the half it was the same combination of Hollis and Aubrey that nearly penetrated the Blues rearguard. This time Hollis' skilful run down the right wing was only matched by his angled cross along the six-yard box but the whipped ball was just out of the reach of Aubrey.

The game remained unchanged until midway through the second half when Redditch United truly earned the title comeback kings.