Birmingham reached their first major final since 1963 with an extra-time win over Premiership Ipswich, their third top flight scalp of this season's Worthington Cup.

The First Division promotion hopefuls had already put out Spurs and Newcastle and had to overturn a single goal first leg lead which Ipswich held going into tonight's tie at St Andrews.

Birmingham's hero was Geoff Horsfield with goals in normal and extra time, the second putting his team back in front on aggregate after James Scowcroft had levelled things up on aggregate following Martin Grainger's opener and Horsfield's first.

But it was in the second period of extra-time that a mistake from Ipswich goalkeeper Richard Wright presented substitute Andrew Johnson with an easy chance to secure the tie and the home side's trip to Cardiff's Millennium Stadium for a Worthington Cup final showdown with Liverpool.

With their only major trophy win in the same competition, then the League Cup, in 1963 it presented Birmingham with the chance to reclaim the silverware after a near 40-year gap.

Dele Adebola, Birmingham's Worthington Cup hero in earlier rounds, was unable to reproduce his goalscoring form in the early stages of tonight's semi-final second leg against Ipswich.

Adebola had a glorious opportunity to cancel out Ipswich's 1-0 first-leg lead but the sturdy striker blasted his shot over the bar from close range.

The First Division club dominated the opening exchanges in their bid to get back on level terms.

In only the second minute Nicky Eaden shot over the bar following a free-kick from goalkeeper Ian Bennett.

Premiership high-fliers Ipswich, beaten in four of their last five away games, had to soak up plenty of pressure and were indebted to some sterling work by Mark Venus.

But Ipswich could count themselves fortunate to keep their goal intact when a looping cross found Stan Lazaridis at the far post.

The Australian headed the ball back towards Adebola but Jim Magilton intercepted and in the process gave away a corner.

In such a hectic start, tempers quickly became frayed as a result of some reckless tackling.

This was highlighted when Richard Naylor chopped down Darren Purse and was immediately booked by referee Jeff Winter.

Shortly afterwards Adebola wasted his opportunity after being put into a clear scoring position by the industrious Eaden.

On a pitch which was cutting up badly, Birmingham continued to pressurise Ipswich in their attempt for the goal which would get them back into the tie.

Purse went close with a glancing header from a left-wing cross by Lazaridis.

Ipswich's composure was certainly ruffled in this spell when Magilton was booked for another bad tackle on Danny Sonner.

With the Ipswich attack effectively snuffed out by some strong defensive work from Michael Johnson and Purse there appeared little likelihood of the Premiership side increasing their advantage.

Ominously for Ipswich Adebola continued to be a major threat, although he should have produced a better finish than a weak header from a left-wing Lazaridis cross.

But the Birmingham striker certainly atoned two minutes before half-time when he floated over a left-wing cross which Richard Wright failed to clear.

Gary Croft, in an attempt to clear, only succeeded in lofting the ball backwards and Martin Grainger raced in to head home Birmingham's vital goal from just a yard out.

It was a goal richly deserved as a result of Birmingham's attacking commitment.

The second half exploded in dramatic fashion after some intensive attacking play from Ipswich.

Unlike in the first half, the visitors switched to attack in an attempt to grab the upper hand.

But the tactic backfired in the 55th minute when Birmingham striker Horsfield sent the home fans wild with delight with the Midlanders second goal of the game.

Once again the goalmaker was the powerfully built Adebola.

He cleverly put Horsfield in position. The former Fulham striker hit a low shot which was blocked by the advancing Richard Wright.

But the Birmingham striker coolly hit another low left-footed shot into the net in the 55th minute to put the home side into the lead for the first time in the two legs.

However, Birmingham's joy was short lived as Ipswich, showing great character, immediately hit back to attain a vital goal and to go ahead on the away goal advantage.

Marcus Stewart, who scored the only goal in the first leg from the penalty spot, smashed a shot against Ian Bennett and from the rebound the Ipswich substitute Scowcroft netted from about eight yards.

This was a body blow for a courageous Birmingham side and for a spell they were obviously deflated as Ipswich began to play in a more cultured and confident style.

Birmingham gallantly attempted to progress into the final with a concentrated attacking spell in the final 10 minutes of normal time.

Horsfield agonisingly watched an angled shot from the left hit the cross bar and seconds later the Birmingham striker forced Richard Wright to make a point blank save to keep Ipswich in the game.

Horsfield scored his second goal of the game in the first period of extra-time to put Birmingham back into the lead on aggregate and have the home fans dreaming once more of a trip to Cardiff next month.

Then Johnson pounced to tap the ball in after Richard Wright had mis-kicked a back pass when the ball bobbled on the uneven playing surface, sending the home fans into raptures.

Teams:

Birmingham: Bennett, Gill, Purse, Michael Johnson, Grainger, Eaden (Hughes 109), O'Connor, Sonner, Lazaridis (Burrows 119), Horsfield, Adebola (Andrew Johnson 98).

Subs Not Used: Poole, Ndlovu.

Booked: Sonner.

Goals: Grainger 43, Horsfield 56, 103, Andrew Johnson 117.

Ipswich: Richard Wright, Croft (Reuser 105), McGreal, Venus, Hreidarsson, Jermaine Wright, Holland, Magilton (Karic 109), Clapham, Stewart, Naylor (Scowcroft 46).

Subs Not Used: Branagan, Brown.

Booked: Naylor, Magilton, Croft.

Goals: Scowcroft 57.

Agg (4-2)

Att: 28,624

Ref: J Winter (Stockton-on-Tees).