Cwmbran Town............0 SK Slovan Bratislava..4

BRAVE Cwmbran Town's European dream came to an abrupt end last night as the ten-man Gwent side were thumped by SK Slovan Bratislava.

The Slovakian side comfortably beat the Welsh part-timers 4-0 in the first leg of their UEFA Cup Preliminary Round tie - making the return leg on August 23 a mere formality.

Goals from Dragan Moyic and Branislav Obzera before the break and strikes from Robert Vittek and Milos Sobona after it have more or less extinguished Cwmbran's European aspirations for another season.

For the return leg in Slovakia in two weeks, Cwmbran will be without their new signing Dean Philpott after he was sent-off 15 minutes into his first competitive match for Town for apparently head-butting Obzera.

The 29-year-old former Merthyr Tydfil centre-back, one of Tony Wilcox's summer signings, lashed out after the 19-year-old Slovakian tackled Philpott on the half-way line.

Ukrainian referee Vitally Godulyan had no hesitation in brandishing the red card.

Until that point, and indeed until Bratislava scored their first goal on 40 minutes through Moyic, Cwmbran looked well-organised and comfortable.

And they could have taken the lead after just eight minutes when Philpott leapt above a crowded penalty area to head an in-swinging right-wing free-kick from Nathan Cotterell inches wide of Bratislava keeper Vojin Brole's right-hand upright.

Cwmbran stood firm at the back and reduced their professional opponents to long-range efforts and half-chances as the visitors could not break down Town's resilient back-line.

The 500-plus crowd at Cardiff Athletic Stadium, which was being used because Cwmbran Stadium is undergoing a £5million redevelopment, were angered as the Eastern Europeans were seemingly making the most of innocuous challenges.

After 27 minutes ref Godulyan cautioned Bratislava defender Marek Petrus for feigning an injury.

But Cwmbran's resistance was ended five minutes before the interval when Moyic stooped in the six-yard box to head Marek Ujlaky's centre past Town's 39-year-old keeper Gary Wager.

With virtually the last kick of the first period, Bratislava doubled their advantage through Obzera. The ball squirmed to the Slovakian striker after a battling run by Vittek and the youngster made no mistake with the finish.

Cwmbran brought on midfielder Michael Pattimore at half-time as they tried to claw themselves back in the tie. But the visitors slowed the game almost to walking pace, stroking the ball about the park confidently wearing down their ten-men opponents.

They had a great opportunity after 75 minutes, when Radim Necas laid a pass to Vittek in the Cwmbran box and the 19-year-old cut back on to his favoured right-foot and fired the ball at goal only to be denied by Wager.

They made their possession and extra man count with their third goal ten minutes from time. Vittek, who was a thorn in Cwmbran's side all night, coolly slotted the ball past Wager after Ujlaky's cut-back.

The result was made even more flattering when the Slovakians bagged a fourth three minutes from the end when 25-year-old defender Sobona headed Ujlaky's right-wing corner past helpless Wager.

Pattimore headed over with only seconds remaining but the part-timers can be proud of their battling display over a side who have plenty of European experience and, in fact, won the Cup Winners Cup in 1969.

* In the picture: Cwmbran's Sean Wharton (right) challenges Slovan Bratislava's Nebosta Kleaestan last night.