A BLISTERING start by Cwmbran Town set them up for a fine 3-1 victory over Port Talbot in the Welsh Premier League last night in a fiery affair.

To say that this match started with a bang would be a massive understatement as within two minutes Cwmbran were 2-0 up and between goals the visitors had missed a penalty.

The first goal came after just 17 seconds when Jason Welsh hammered home a fierce low shot into the bottom corner of the net.

Straight from the kick-off Port Talbot went up the pitch and won a penalty when Carl Shaw was tripped in the box by Kris Thomas. Shaw himself took the spot kick but blasted it over the bar.

Within moments the action swung towards the other end of the pitch and Kristian Hanbury latched on to a long ball and lobbed it over the advancing goalkeeper.

It was breathtaking stuff and those who had gambled on that quick last pint before the game would have been cursing their luck as the rest of the half went goalless. In fact it was the visitors who created the best of the chances in that first period with Shaw hitting the bar and former Cwmbran player Rhys Griffiths going close twice with headers, the second of which drawing a superb save by Crows goalkeeper Gareth Wesson low to his right.

The second period saw the match slow in tempo but rise in tempers and after Welsh had had a shot cleared off the line and Hanbury had an effort saved by Ned Thomas, it was to boil over completely.

The flashpoint arrived when Port Talbot's Matt Rees, who played for Newport County earlier in the season, was sent off after clashing with Kris Thomas in the centre circle.

From that point the match became increasingly bad tempered with clashes all over the pitch and chances at a premium.

The visitors did manage to grab one back with 12 minutes to go when Lee Surman took advantage of some defensive hesitancy to lash home a low drive from 14 yards.

That set up a nervy closing spell for Cwmbran but they sealed the victory when Welsh grabbed his second of the game, bundling home a Michael Fowler cross in the last minute.

There was still time for yet more controversy as Kristian Dimond was sent off for a second bookable offence just before the final whistle.

The stormy scenes witnessed on the pitch were mirrored off the field as sections of both supporters got involved in heated confrontation.

The Crows have now lost only once in the last nine games and will be confident ahead of Sunday's match at Connah's Quay (KO 2.30).

Cwmbran: Wesson, Green, James, Cochlin, Thomas, Fowler, Edwards (Plant 75), Dimond, Welsh, Hanbury (Mainwaring 85), Heal (Porter 89). Booked: Dimond (53 foul) Sent off: Dimond (90 second yellow) Referee: H Jones Attendance: 140