There were plenty of fireworks in tonight's Bonfire Night local derby at St. Andrew's as Blues and Villa shared six goals in an eventful reserve team clash.

The hosts produced a sparkling first half display capped by two clinical finishes from Robin Shroot to put Terry Westley's side well in control going into the half-time break.

Unfortunately Blues took their foot off the gas after the interval and allowed their near-neighbours back into the game with three goals turning the match on its head.

But that wasn't the end of the story as Kevin Phillips rescued a point with a delightful finish and a red card for youngster Jacob Rowe completed a dramatic evening of entertainment.

Blues made the perfect start as Shroot fired the hosts into the lead after just four minutes.

The Northern Ireland youth international was put through by Kevin Phillips and he kept his cool to fire low past Elliott Parish.

Gary McSheffrey and James O'Shea both went close with shots as the hosts continued to dominate the early play.

Joe Hart was called into action for the first time on 21 minutes with a routine save down to his left from Nathan Baker's weak header.

Blues won a free-kick in a dangerous position on the edge of the area from which Lee Carsley fired into the wall and McSheffrey's two follow-up shots were also blocked by the forest of Villa legs.

Westley's side doubled their lead on 33 minutes and it was Shroot the man on the mark again.

The Blues number ten took advantage of a fortunate deflection from Phillip's through ball and produced another composed finish into the bottom left corner of Parish's net.

Towards the end of the first half Phillips saw a shot deflected just over the bar while at the other end Barry Bannan's 30-yard effort fizzed just wide of the target.

Villa went into the game flying high at the top of the reserve league table and boasting an unbeaten record and they came out in the second half with far more attacking intent which paid dividends almost immediately.

Nathan Delfouneso got to the byline and pulled the ball back for Andeas Weimann whose close range effort had too much power for Hart, who got a hand to it but couldn't keep it out.

The Villa duo combined again moments later with Weimann this time the creator but Delfouneso missed a great chance to restore parity when he miscued his header right in front of goal.

Blues responded with a Mutch effort from 25 yards that bounced only a couple of yards wide.

And Franck Queudrue was equally as close with an audacious effort from just inside his own half after a poor clearance from Parish had left the Villa keeper way out of his goal.

The match completely turned around with two quick goals midway through the second half and unfortunately it was three minutes to forget for Blues' Ecuadorian defender Giovanny Espinoza.

First he tried to shepherd the ball out of play for a goal kick only to be pick-pocketed by Delfouneso who then crossed for Wiemann to tap home his second goal of the game.

And then Marc Albrighton's cross was deflected past Hart by Espinoza to give the visitors the lead.

Westley reacted by bringing on two of his Academy youngsters, Jamie Dunphy and Ashley Sammons, but it was one of the old stagers that sparked Blues back into life eight minutes from time.

Phillips cut inside from the left and curled a terrific shot past Parish into the bottom right corner.

Blues were indebted to Hart for an instinctive stop with his legs from Marc Albrighton's and then Cieran Clark headed wide when presented with a great chance in front of goal as the leaders desperately sought a winning goal.

The home side finished the game with ten men after youngster Rowe was sent off for his second yellow card after tugging back Wiemann.

Blues: Joe Hart, Jacob Rowe, Gregory Vignal (Akwasi Asante 76), Giovanny Espinoza (Jamie Dunphy 69), Franck Queudrue, Jordon Mutch, James O'Shea, Lee Carsley, Kevin Phillips, Robin Shroot (Ashley Sammons 68), Gary McSheffrey.
Subs (not used): Jack Butland, Jakub Hronec.
Goals: Shroot (4, 33), Phillips (82)

Villa: Elliot Parish, Matthew Roome, Derrick Williams (William Grocott 89), Jonathan Hogg, Ciaran Clark, Nathan Baker, Marc Albrighton, Andreas Weimann, Nathan Delfouneso, Barry Bannan, Gary Gardner.
Subs (not used): Thomas Dau, Andras Stieber, Harry Forrester, Adam McGurk.
Goals: Wiemann (50, 64), Espinoza og (67)

Robin Shroot fires home the first of his two goals this evening.