The weekend of 16^th/17^th March 2002 saw the Heads of the Valleys Hotshots have teams playing in 3 age groups of the Welsh League.

HOV Hotshots Under 10’s 3

Risca Romans 23

Risca are by far the strongest team in the league at this age group, but this match wasn’t so much about the score but about the attitude of the Blaenau Gwent youngsters.

Once again they fought hard, and were there to support each other as the game unfolded.

Such was the team spirit that during the first few minutes of the game, the Hotshots were able to dominate, with keeper Greg Apperly showing his team the way to play, making some great saves.

The Hotshots actually took the lead, with Captain Jamie Lewis netting the first goal.

The Romans soon pulled the scores back level, but Jordan Meale soon had the Valleys team back in the lead.

At this point the Romans started to dominate, and the interval score was 9-2 to the Risca side.

At the start of the 2^nd period, Matthew Downward hit a third goal for the Hotshots, but despite some brave defending, the Romans always seemed to find a way through.

Two debutants for the Hotshots deserve a special mention, with Joel Gillard and Craig McGuire both playing with determination and spirit.

HOV Hotshots Under 10’s 3

Howardian 14

The Cardiff side took the lead in this match, but the Valleys boys and girls play with such enthusiasm that they keep plugging away with some good passing, particularly between Jordan Meale and Matthew Downward, eventually paying off, as Downward netted.

The Howardian’s are another very strong side, and despite goals from Jamie Lewis, and Meale, ably set up by Downward, the interval scores were 9-3 in favour of the team from the capital.

The 2^nd half performance from the Hotshots was far better, with defenders Jamie Robinson, Samantha Rodgers and Michael Grovell helping to keep the scores down. Kane Lewis and Liam Rickwood both put in a great performance, but the final score ended with the Howardian’s winning 14-3.

HOV Hotshots Under 14’s 1

Caerphilly 8

The Under 14’s were without 2 key players in the shape of the Heard brothers, Thomas and Joseph who are the Captain and Assistant of this team, and this was a key factor in this and the subsequent defeat.

The only goal of the game for the Hotshots came in the first period and fell to Sarah Rodgers.

Owen price and Liz Evans shared net minding duties, with Peter Rodgers captaining the side and Berwyn Roderick acting as Assistant.

Rob Jones, Alex Symonds, Dan Symonds, Alex Trotman. Rachel Grovell, David Robinson and Stewart Rickwood made up the rest of the team.

HOV Hotshots Under 14’s 1

Risca Romans 12

This was another dominant game for the Romans, with the Hotshots only goal falling to Alex Symonds.

HOV Hotshots Under 18’s 6

Pontypool 3

This was a very fast and physical game between local rivals, and the Hotshots were very keen to come out on top.

Jason O’Neill had an outstanding match in the Hotshots goal, and his net minding bravery kept the Pontypool side at bay for much of the game.

Nick Rogers hit the Hotshots opener, only to see the lead cancelled out with the very next Pontypool attack.

Inspirational Captain Philip Rodgers made it 2-1, and then late in the first period, a goal mouth scramble resulted in James Trotman being credited with the 3^rd Hotshots strike.

Pontypool hit a goal the start of the 2^nd half, but a great move saw Rodgers score off a Gareth Emms assist.

Again Ponty scored, and at 4-3, they felt they had a chance to get back into the game; so much so that they pulled their keeper from the game and put on an extra attacker. This proved to be a big mistake, as Chris Prosser hit a tremendous clearance from the Hotshots defence that sailed through the Pontypool players and into the back of their empty net!

Gareth Emms rounded off the scoring.

HOV Hotshots Under 18’s 7

Voodoo Hawks 4

This was another fast and furious match with Emms opening the scoring.

He then doubled the teams tally with a great goal off a great pass from Rodgers.

The 3^rd goal fell to the Hotshots from a Michael Haile pass that Jason Rickwood blasted home.

Haile went on to hit 4 and 5 for himself, and then setting up Rickwood for the 6^th.

Rickwood struck his hat trick goal during the second half.

Robert Baker put in another fine performance against his old team.