The Heads of the Valleys Hotshots Under 10’s and Under 12’s were in action at Ebbw Vale leisure Centre on the 26^th January, and both teams were up against teams from Cardiff and Caerphilly.

HOV Hotshots Under 12’s 7

Howardian 3

The Blaenau Gwent under 12’s had never beaten this Cardiff team ever, and at the start of this match, it looked like the old pattern of trying hard but not quite succeeding was repeating itself.

Liz Baker in the Hotshots goal found herself under pressure from the first whistle, with the defence of David Robinson, Rachel Grovell and Stewart Rickwood being pulled all over the pitch.

The Cardiff outfit took the lead, and kept the pressure on causing Baker to pull off a string of great saves. The Hotshots had one good break in the first period, with Matthew Day beating the Howardian defence and setting up Alex Trotman for the equaliser.

The stalemate was short lived however, as the Howardian’s again took the lead, and then scored late in the period to take the interval scores to 3-1 in their favour.

Owen Price replaced Baker in goal at half time, and he like his teammate was called into action early in the half, making a great save.

The ball was released to Rickwood on the left wing, who skated forward and then hit a superb shot from inside his own half that beat the Cardiff keeper.

This was followed up by the equalising goal that came from a great move from the old partnership of Trotman and Sarah Rodgers.

Rodgers made a fantastic pass to Trotman out on the right wing who hit a screaming shot straight into the top corner of the Howardian goal.

The Hotshots then took the lead when Trotman set up Rhys Lewis for the 4^th goal.

Luciano Casa came close to netting, but it was Trotman who extended the lead hitting his hat trick.

Rickwood stole the show however, when he made another break down the wing and netted his second of the season, and then finished the capital outfit off with another great goal that secured his hat trick and a brilliant second half display from the Valleys side.

HOV Hotshots Under 12’s 10

Caerphilly 0

If the first match was the Rickwood-Trotman show, then this one was the Trotman Rodgers show!

Price started in goal for the Hotshots and was hardly troubled for whole of the first half, as the Valleys side camped in the opposition half.

Rodgers netted the first goal, with Trotman scoring the second.

Rodgers rounded off the first half scoring to give the Hotshots a 3-0 interval lead.

Baker stepped into the goal at the start of the 2^nd period, and she too had little to do for the whole game.

Matthew Day netted number 4 off a Trotman assist, with Rodgers securing her hat trick for number 5.

Luciano Casa set up Rhys Lewis for number 6, with Trotman hitting number 7 in typical individual style, with Grovell in the sin bin, he picked the ball up in his own half and dribbled through the Caerphilly players before scoring.

Goal number 8 secured Trotmans hat trick, and he struck number 9 from a Rodgers pass.

The final goal fell to Rodgers, with Trotman this time providing the pass.

HOV Hotshots under 10’s 2

Caerphilly 5

A brilliant display from, Greg Apperley in goal kept the first half scores down to 1-0 to Caerphilly, but lack of finishing from the Valleys sides strikers meant that after a short period in the 2^nd half they were down to 4-0.

Jamie Robinson and Michael Grovell worked hard in defence, with Liam Rickwood and Caine Lewis doing a lot of chasing. Jordan Meale came close to netting, but the first goal for the Hotshots fell to Matthew Downward.

Caerphilly hit a 5^th, but a late goal from captain Jamie Lewis made the score a little more respectable.

HOV Hotshots under 10’s 7

Howardian 16

For long periods of this match the Blaenau Gwent outfit were able to keep in touch with the Cardiff side, but at the end the bigger squad and therefore fresher legs won the game.

The Hotshots fought back from 3-0 down to 3-3 with goals from Jamie Lewis, off a Matthew Downward assist, and then 2 from Downward himself.

The Howardian extended their lead before Jordan Meale hit a 4^th for the home side.

At the start of the 2^nd period the lead was further increased to 10-4, but then a flurry of goals from both teams saw the scores 12-7, with Lewis hitting twice and Downward just the once.