On the morning of 5th October 2025, Millmoor Juniors Blacks U8 welcomed Hoyland Town Juniors U8 to their home ground at Millmoor Juniors (Youth) U7 Millmoor Jun for a 5-a-side league fixture kicking off at 9:30am. The match lasted 40 minutes plus injury time and ended in a commanding 8-0 victory for Millmoor Juniors Blacks, showcasing their attacking prowess and defensive solidity under the watchful eye of referee Oscar Burnett.
Millmoor Juniors Blacks lined up in a 2-2 formation, a setup that demands balance between defence and attack. The two defenders were expected to provide a solid backline, while the two midfielders would be tasked with both supporting the defence and driving forward to create chances. The goalkeeper’s role was crucial in organising the defence and making key saves. The starting five were Lelan Woodthorpe-Martin, Ruairi Nicholson-Fearnside, Teddy Cooney, Dom Openshaw, and Ivan Voronovich. The substitutes available were Stan Jenkinson and Archie Jenkinson, ready to inject fresh energy when called upon.
From the outset, Ivan Voronovich showed intent with an early attempt in the first minute, though it went wide. Just three minutes later, the Juniors took the lead as Ivan provided a short pass assist for Teddy Cooney, who confidently finished inside the box with his right foot. The momentum continued immediately as Dom Openshaw followed up with a solo goal, cutting inside and firing home with his left foot in the fifth minute.
Teddy Cooney was influential early on, delivering a long key pass in the seventh minute, although it did not result in a chance. Ivan Voronovich demonstrated his defensive capabilities with a well-timed tackle in the eighth minute, helping to keep Hoyland Town at bay. Ruairi Nicholson-Fearnside also contributed with a long pass at the ninth minute, though it failed to create a clear opportunity.
Teddy Cooney came close to extending the lead in the tenth minute when his shot hit the post. Shortly after, the first substitutions were made: Stan Jenkinson replaced Dom Openshaw, and Archie Jenkinson came on for Ruairi Nicholson-Fearnside. Millmoor Juniors Blacks quickly regained their attacking rhythm as Teddy Cooney scored again in the eleventh minute with a powerful right-footed strike from outside the area.
Ivan Voronovich continued to impress defensively, making a crucial tackle in the twelfth minute that prevented a chance. Archie Jenkinson tested the opposition goalkeeper with attempts saved in the thirteenth minute, followed by further saved efforts from Stan and Archie Jenkinson at the fifteenth minute. Lelan Woodthorpe-Martin also made a vital tackle at this stage to deny Hoyland Town a scoring opportunity.
The pressure paid off in the sixteenth minute when Archie Jenkinson scored from a corner delivered by Stan Jenkinson, slotting home with his left foot. Lelan Woodthorpe-Martin was alert in goal, parrying a shot in the seventeenth minute, before Teddy Cooney completed a fine solo effort moments later, finishing with his right foot to add to his tally.
Ruairi Nicholson-Fearnside returned to the pitch at the eighteenth minute, replacing Ivan Voronovich, while Dom Openshaw came back on for Teddy Cooney. Ruairi attempted a shot wide of the target in the nineteenth minute, but Millmoor Juniors Blacks were undeterred as Stan Jenkinson tapped in a goal shortly after, rounding off a dominant first half that ended 6-0.
The second half saw continued attacking intent. Dom Openshaw’s shot was saved immediately after the restart, and Ruairi Nicholson-Fearnside also had an effort saved at the 22nd minute. Lelan Woodthorpe-Martin was outstanding in goal, making a full-stretch save at the 25th minute and another at the 29th minute, keeping a clean sheet intact.
Dom Openshaw created a chance with a clever flick pass in the 27th minute, while Ruairi Nicholson-Fearnside made a crucial tackle a minute later to prevent a scoring opportunity. Substitutions followed with Teddy Cooney returning for Archie Jenkinson and Ivan Voronovich replacing Dom Openshaw.
Ruairi Nicholson-Fearnside’s wide attempt came at the 30th minute, but the Juniors’ dominance was undiminished. Teddy Cooney scored his fourth goal of the match in the 35th minute, finishing inside the box after a short pass from goalkeeper Lelan Woodthorpe-Martin who was now out of the net and had a stint up front. Ivan was now in the net for Millmoor.
In the closing stages, Dom Openshaw returned for Ruairi Nicholson-Fearnside, and Archie Jenkinson replaced Stan Jenkinson at the 36th minute. Ivan Voronovich contributed defensively with an interception in goal at the 37th minute, showcasing his versatility.
The final goal came in the 40th minute when Lelan Woodthorpe-Martin scored inside the box, assisted by Dom Openshaw’s short pass, rounding off a comprehensive 8-0 victory for Millmoor Juniors Blacks. The team’s fluid passing, clinical finishing, and resolute defending ensured a memorable morning at Millmoor Juniors.
