Harsh lesson for part-timers of Glenavon

Werder Bremen 5 Glenavon 0 (Bremen win 7-0 on aggregate)

Glenavon fought valiantly but could not cope with the qualities of Werder Bremen and bowed out of the Uefa Cup yesterday.

The Germans were simply too good for the part-timers of the Irish League. Bigger in physique and much faster on the ball, they made life difficult for Glenavon, who nevertheless refused to drop their heads and fought to the bitter end.

They held the Germans for 26 minutes before the goal feast started. The man who did all the damage was striker Bernd Hobsch, who hit a dazzling hat-trick. He headed home from Mario Basler's corner in the 26th minute and had another shot cleared off the line by Paul Byrne before he snatched his second in the 35th minute. Dermot O'Neill in the Glenavon goal was rooted to the spot as Hobsch's spectacular overhead kick flashed into the net near his right-hand post.

Glenavon never troubled the Germans, but their commitment was never in doubt even though the game raced away from them.

Basler scored in the 36th minute from the penalty spot after the unfortunate Byrne brought down the Russian Vladimir Bestchastnykh. And before the Glenavon players had a chance to catch their breath Hobsch struck again to complete his hat-trick, this time getting on the end of a Marco Bode cross and flicking the ball past the bewildered O'Neill.

Hobsch was carried off on a stretcher but soon returned to torture Glenavon. Bode hit the post in the 54th minute and with the crowd expecting the ball to cross the line, it bounced off the opposite post.

Glenavon were seldom an attacking force, but on one rare excursion into Werder's danger area, Glenn Ferguson hit a ferocious volley just over the bar. But on a night when fortune certainly did not favour the brave, Borowka made it five, heading home from Basler's cross.

Werder Bremen: Reck; Scholz, Wolter, Wiedener, Eilts, Borowka, Basler, Votava, Hobsch, Bestchastnykh, Bode. Substitutes: Biersdorfer, Albayrak, Vier.

Glenavon: O'Neill; Byrney, Glendinning, Kenny, Brown, Smyth, Collins, Johnston, Ferguson, McBride, D Murphy. Substitutes: A Murphy, McCoy.

Referee: A Hamer (Luxembourg).

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