Stern John hit a hat-trick to send Birmingham into the third round of the Worthington Cup with a 3-2 win against Leyton Orient at Brisbane Road.

John hit two goals in 10 first-half minutes before Kevin Nugent pulled one back after the break.

John then struck again before Jobo Ibehre scored to set up a grandstand finish.

Birmingham opened the scoring after 15 minutes, John latching on to a Stan Lazaridis through-ball which split the Orient defence before shooting past Glenn Morris.

John could have added a second after 22 minutes when he was played in again following neat link play from Lazaridis and Geoff Horsfield.

But he failed to get a meaningful connection and fired wide.

He made up for it in the 26th minute after hesitation from Morris in the home goal.

Lazaridis fed Horsfield, and the Birmingham striker squared the ball for John to finish from close range into an empty net with Morris slow to react.

Orient continued to push forward in search of a goal and Kevin Nugent almost scored just after half time, but his weak header was easily saved by Ian Bennett.

Thorpe then tried his luck from 25 yards on the volley after a one-two with Nugent, but failed to test the keeper.

Orient grabbed a lifeline through Nugent after 60 minutes when his header from a Brazier cross went in off the crossbar.

But Orient's keeper was soon back in action, making a double save from John and Horsfield as Birmingham fought back.

John forced an excellent save from Morris in the 76th minute and completed his hat-trick a minute later when he connected with Lazaridis' pass to tap home from short range.

Ibehre gave the home fans hope with a goal nine minutes from time, but the Premiership side clung on for victory.

Leyton Orient: Morris, Lockwood, Smith, Miller, Harris, Hutchings, Toner, Brazier, Campbell-Ryce, Nugent, Thorpe. Subs: Barrett, Martin, Ibehre, Fletcher, Barnard.

Birmingham: Bennett, Kenna, Vickers, Purse, Woodhouse, Lazaridis, Powell, Kirovski, Sadler, John, Horsfield. Subs: Vaesen, Morrison, Damien Johnson, Carter, Fagan.

Referee: T Bates (Stoke on Trent).