A FIRST-HALF blitz of three goals in eight minutes means Cwmbran's home game against fellow strugglers NEWI Cefn Druids on Saturday could be the key to unlock the relegation escape hatch.

The bottom line is a Crows victory will take them out of the two-strong drop zone and three points clear of the Druids, who lost 4-1 against Welsh Premier League champions Total Network Solutions last night.

Another favourable result saw fellow-relegation candidates Newtown drop a couple of points in a 2-2 draw with Llanelli while Connah's Quay Nomads, who were not in action last night, are also in the mix just two points ahead of the Crows.

After the Druids encounter, Cwmbran's final match is at Airbus UK, who are currently only three points better off than the Gwent club.

Cwmbran boss Sean Wharton had said prior to the game that he wanted his side to start against Porthmadog in the same positive frame of mind in which it had ended Easter Monday's home game with Bangor City.

The message clearly found its intended target because after Crows central defender Daniel Clare had headed against his own post, the home side simply blasted Porthmadog out of the water with that incredible burst of scoring.

First on the scoresheet was Josh Collins, a defender playing up front, who glanced home a header at a Simon Heal corner and within two minutes midfielder Rhys Carpenter made it 2-0 by expertly lobbing goalkeeper Richard Harvey from long range.

But there was more to come. Just six minutes had passed when central defender Nicky Ward headed Jamie Edwards' corner powerfully home to put the Crows in complete control at 3-0.

The Druids pulled one back when Clare inadvertently headed past on-rushing goalkeeper Richard Lancaster with 22 minutes remaining and although they rode their luck somewhat after that point, Cwmbran also went close to adding to their tally on several occasions.

The Crows now have a couple of days to recover and gather their thoughts before the Druids visit Cwmbran Stadium for what has to be the club's most important game in years.

- Cwmbran will permit free admission to the first 40 adults and/or the first 30 senior citizens to attend Saturday's game against the Druids (kick off 2.30pm).

Cwmbran Town: R Lancaster, T Green, G Wysome, N Ward, D Clare, M Phillips (K Hanbury 81), S Heal (c), R Carpenter, S Loverso (C Pearce 89), J Collins, J Edwards (Z Misbah 78). Booked: Collins (86). Goals: Collins (18), Carpenter (20), Ward (26).

Porthmadog: R Harvey, G Mitchell, M Foster (c), R Davies, L Webber, P Friel, D Hughes, I Thomas (C Lloyd-Williams, 68), J Sadler, G Caughter, L Davies (Y Williams, 68). Subs not used: I Williams, M Cook. Goal: Clare (own goal, 68).

Referee: R Ellingham (Cardiff).