Football: Lilywhites go down fighting; But fans have last laugh in Latvia.

Byline: ANDY GILPIN

THE chant before, during and after Rhyl's first taste of European football was ``Champions League? You're having a laugh!''

Originally sung in jest, it was a ditty that changed meaning as John Hulse's side put up a brave fight before losing to 13-time Latvian champions Skonto Riga in the first leg of last night's Champions League, first qualifying round tie.

Judging by the six players who represented Latvia in Euro 2004 named in the home side, many fans feared Rhyl would be no match.

But during the first half -- despite a fortuitous goal for international striker Mihalis Miholaps -- it was difficult to see who the laugh was on as Rhyl's part timers matched the experienced Champions League campaigners.

Hulse, though, found himself up against a wily character in Skonto and Latvia national team boss Aleksandrs Starkovs, the man who masterminded a 0-0 draw for the Baltic nation against Germany in Portugal.

The game changed on a substitution -- a defender for attacker at half time -- and Rhyl's game plan couldn't cope.

On came pacy winger Kristaps Blanks for defender Olegs Blagonadezdins as Starkovs got wise to Rhyl's tactic of playing just one man up front.

It became clear from the opening minutes that Rhyl arrived in the Latvian capital intent on playing a containment game against a Skonto side half-way through their league programme.

But the loss of last season's top scorer Andy Moran, injured late on Tuesday in the final warm-up, upset Hulse's planning.

However, he got a full-blooded display in the first half, midfielder Marc Limbert typifying this by seeing yellow after just two minutes for a late challenge.

Then the half turned into a battle of flicks against kicks. Skonto's front men tried their best to bamboozle the Lilywhites' rear guard with some overelaborate trickery, with Hulse's men tackling everything that moved.

But after 10 minutes the Latvian side got a rather fortunate break. For all their attempted sorcery it was a simple long ball up the field that did the damage. Gat is Kalnis got the flick-on, and despite looking offside, Miholaps lashed the ball into the bottom corner.

Just four minutes later Rhyl could have equalised when Mark Powell released Limbert and his blocked effort fell to Gary Powell who just couldn't convert. Jamie Brewerton then saw his long-range effort deflected just over.

Starkovs knew something had to be done after the break so on came Blanks to give the Lilywhites a torrid second period.

If Skonto's first goal had a hint of offside, they also enjoyed a slice of luck for their second on 55 minutes.

A deep corner caused all sorts of confusion in the box and although Mark Powell appeared to be elbowed, the ball fell to Miholaps who knocked it home.

Rhyl keeper Paul Smith was all at sea nine minutes later as Ignas Dedura knocked in the third from a corner.

The Latvians always looked more likely to add another and it came on 77 minutes, when despite some brave tackling by Jamie Brewerton, Kalnins forced his way through to set up sub Aleksbjs Visnakovf to score.

Despite watching Blanks hit the bar once again, Rhyl's traveling army kept in good spirits, desperate to take something from the game ahead of Wednesday's return leg at Belle Vue.

They didn't get it but proclaimed: ``We're going to win 5-4". Can the Champions League really be that amusing?

CAPTION(S):

Rhyl skipper Tim Edwards (left) jumps for the ball, while Robbie Wood (right) gets a hug from team-mate Gary Powell after defeat by Skonto Riga Pictures: STACEY ROBERTS