Late goal clinches Birmingham Senior Cup for West Brom

Francis struck in the 94th minute to spare David Oldfield's under-21s side extra-time and break Tamworth hearts.

An 80th-minute equaliser from the Lambs' Kaiyne Woolery looked set to ensure an extra half-hour after Samir Nabi had blasted the Baggies ahead early in the second half at The Hawthorns.

Goalkeeper Jack Rose was the star performer for the Baggies with a string of fine saves.

It was meant the Baggies lifted the trophy for the second time in three years following their 2012 victory over Solihull Moors.

Albion had the first attempt on goal when Kemar Roofe headed narrowly over from a fine cross by Wes Atkinson.

But the Baggies had Rose to thank for keeping them on level terms twice in the first eight minutes.

First he flew to his right to pull off a fine, instinctive save from a stinging Jake Caprice effort.

Then he leapt acrobatically to tip over Ben Richards-Everton's header from a Jack Evans corner.

Much for the first half was scrappy with both sides struggling to create clearcut chances and Atkinson's cross from the right that just evaded the onrushing Liam O'Neil at the far post as close as Albion went into the 42nd minute, when Lambs keeper Cameron Belford denied them with a fine save.

He fell instinctively to his left to block a header by O'Neil from a teasing cross by winger Joe Ward.

Early in the second half Alex Jones twice threatened for the hosts, first with a header just wide from a cross by Ward and then with a shot that he flashed just wide.

The Baggies finally went ahead on 58 minutes when Roofe fed a through-ball into the feet of Nabi, who produced a fine, low finish to make it 1-0.

And they might have doubled their lead six minutes later when Nabi tried his luck from the edge of the area with a curling shot that went fractionally wide.

But in between those moments the Baggies had a major let-off when Kaiyne Woolery failed to hit the target with a free header from a cross by Kevin Thornton.

And after Nabi's near-miss the Baggies were spared again when a Thornton corner bounced around the box and sat up for Richards-Everton, who sent a glorious chance over the crossbar.

The game was flowing from end to end and Roofe sent a shot just wide for the Baggies on 74 minutes.

Rose continued to excel and he made another smart save with 13 minutes to go, turning a low cross-shot from Richard Peniket around the far post.

But the Lambs struck back with 10 minutes of normal time remaining when a left-wing cross from Jack Evans was powered home by the head of Woolery.

And the visitors could have took the lead moments later through substitute Darren Byfield, but the former Villa and Walsall man was denied by another smart save from Rose.

But deep into the fourth minute of five added on, Aaron Birch's through-ball found Francis and he produced a fine finish to seal the victory.

Albion: Rose; Atkinson, Garmston (Gayle, 67), O'Neil, D Daniels, Howkins, Roofe, Birch, A Jones, S Nabi, Ward (Francis, 73). Subs not used: C Jones, Pace, Palmer (gk).

Tamworth: Belford; Caprice, Keane, Richards-Everton, Evans; Batis-Cande (Baker, HT), Thornton, Kerry, Peniket; Woolery, Reindorf (Byfield, 71). Subs not used: Townsend, Richards, Wren (gk).

Referee: G Taylor

Attendance: 755