Blues cruised into the second round of the Birmingham Senior Cup with a comfortable 3-1 victory against Solihull Moors.

Lee Carsley opened the scoring for his side on the stroke of half time, before second half goals from Marcus Bent and Brice Ntambwe sealed the win.

Ross Dempster pulled the score back to 3-1 on 89 minutes, but it was too little, too late for the home side.

Blues came up against a Solihull Moors side with no less than three of their former Academy players in the starting line up - Darren Campion, James McPike and Mark Gardner.

Another ex-blue Dean Lea, began the game for the Blue Square North side on the substitutes' bench.

On a crisp evening at Damson Lane, Blues began the game with a trio of experienced players through the spine of their team.

Liam Ridgewell was as at centre back, Lee Carsley in the middle of the park and Marcus Bent up front.

The first opportunity of the game fell to Solihull Moors on eight minutes.

Greg Mills cut in from the left by-line before unleashing a fierce effort which Blues keeper Jack Butland did well to palm away at full stretch.

Solihull were having the better of the attacking play and both James McPike and the lively left winger Mills both went close with shots from the edge of the area which were narrowly off target.

Disappointingly it took until 37 minutes for Blues to make any sort of attempt on the Moors goal and that came when Brice Ntambwe met Marcus Bent's cross with a header, which the Moors keeper comfortably saved.

Just as the half looked to be heading for a stalemate, drama ensued in the final two minute.

Much against the run of play Blues took the lead through Carsley.

Jacob Rowe launched the ball forward, Bent flicked it on and Carsley took advantage of an error from keeper Crane to pounce and slide the ball into an empty net.  

But within seconds of the restart Moors had a golden opportunity to bring the scores level when they were awarded a penalty.

Rowe was adjudged to have unfairly brought down Gardner in his own box.

As well conceding a spot kick Blues also saw Ridgewell booked in the ensuing arguments.

But fortunately for Rowe keeper Jack Butland saved his blushes as he dived low to his right to pull off an impressive save from Mills and the ball was cleared away.

Half time: Solihull Moors 0 Blues 1

It took just six minutes after the restart for Blues to double their advantage.

Omar Bogle earned his side a free kick just yards outside the Moors area.

Bent stepped up and let loose with a low effort which evaded the wall and went underneath a diving Danny Crane.

The game was stopped for several minutes when Moors' Theo Streete fell awkwardly and was eventually forced to leave the pitch with a leg injury on 53 minutes.

Just after the hour mark Blues boss Terry Westley made a triple substitution.

Bent, Carsley and Ridgewell all left the field to be replaced by Robin Shroot, Julius Gombala and Luke Hubbins.

Former Blues trainee Lea almost brought his Moors side back into the game when he hit the bar and then the post in the same passage of play before Butland finally grasped the ball on the Blues line.

But it was Blues who were next to hit the back of the net.

Robin Shroot had a fine shot deflected for a corner.

The midfielder then put in an inch perfect ball into the box for Brice Ntambwe to rise high above his marker and powerfully head the ball home to seal the win.

With just two minutes of the game remaining Moors got the goal that their play had deserved when Dempster collected the ball eight yards out turned well and slid the ball past Butland.

Full time: Solihull Moors 1 Blues 3

Blues: Jack Butland, Dan Preston, Stefan Metcalfe, Liam Ridgewell (Luke Hubbins), Jacob Rowe, Brice Ntambwe, Jakub Hronec, Lee Carsley (Julius Gombala 62), Marcus Bent (Robin Shroot 62), Omar Bogle, Shane Williams.
Subs not used: Nick Townsend, Reece Fleet.
Bookings: Ridgewell (45),
Goals: Carsley (45), Bent (51), Ntambwe (80)  

Solihull Moors: Danny Crane, Phil Midworth, Darren Campion, Theo Streete (Darren Stapleton 53), Indy Khela, Peter Faulds, Junior English, James Pugh, Mark Gardner (Dean Lea 62), James McPike (Ross Dempster 72), Greg Mills.
Subs not used: Alex Price, John Douglas.

You can see highlights and reaction from the game on the Blues Player on Wednesday for free by taking a 14-day trial offer.