SYMMES TOWNSHIP, OH (May 24, 2025) – Kings Hammer FC Cincinnati muscled their way to victory over West Virginia United in a match that featured eight yellow cards, a red card, an own goal and a head coach making his debut at the helm of KHFC.
The opening twenty minutes saw a mixture of pressure from both sides, with chances coming at each end of the field, including two headers from KHFC forward Brock Kiper calling West Virginia goalkeeper Thomas Macauley into action.
The breakthrough would happen for KHFC though, as a third header from Kiper– this time from close-range– would find the back of the net, putting the hosts ahead in the 22nd minute.
“The first two I was looking to go a little far post,” Kiper said about his headed attempts. “Then I just said ‘Ok, I’m going to just head near-post and hope he doesn’t make the save,’ which is exactly what happened.”
KHFC forward Bennett Painter had an opportunity to double the advantage, but his right-footed, curling shot from inside the box would be punched away by McCauley.
After some more back and forth chances, it would be the visitors next on the scoresheet as a low cross found the feet of West Virginia forward Louis Crofts, who placed his shot into the bottom right corner to level the score at one 34 minutes in.
The first two yellow cards would come within the final five minutes of the half, with one shown to each side. KHFC goalkeeper Jack Moxom was forced to make a diving save to his right on the free kick that resulted from the KHFC yellow card, which kept the score knotted up going into halftime.
After the break, West Virginia would come out in a high press, forcing KHFC back onto their heels. The KHFC defense stood strong though and, paired with a few saves from Moxom, withstood the pressure until substitutes were brought on to help KHFC get a hold of the ball.
Things would continue to go back and forth until the 66th minute, when the game really took a turn.
First, the referee would brandish a yellow card to the West Virginia United bench following some shouts about a call. Then, in the 69th minute, KHFC defender Dominic Breidenbach put in a crunching tackle on West Virginia midfielder and goalscorer Louis Crofts.
Crofts would take exception to the tackle, tripping Breidenbach while still on the turf following a whistle by the referee. Both players would receive a yellow, but it wouldn’t end there.
Just one minute later following another stoppage, Crofts blocked the ball that KHFC midfielder Kenney Walker was attempting to put back in play, earning him a second yellow and a resulting red card, meaning his night had come to an end in the 70th minute.
Sensing an opportunity, KHFC quickly began to up the tempo, pushing ahead in the final third. In the 72nd minute, KHFC defender Caleb Frakes would lift a ball in towards Kiper up top, but West Virginia defender Ellis Williamson would get his head to it first. Williamson headed it back towards his goalkeeper Macauley, as he was rushing off his line in an attempt to claim the cross. Williamson’s header looped over Macauley, who could only watch as the ball landed in the back of his net to put KHFC on top 2-1 with under 20 minutes to play.
West Virginia pushed for an equalizer, but ultimately struggled to keep the ball from KHFC, who were unlucky to not add a third.
In the end, the own goal from Williamson would be enough as West Virginia couldn’t find the equalizer, meaning KHFC claimed all three points and KHFC head coach Tony Awor began his first season in charge with a win.
“It was a great win for us,” said Awor following the match. “A lot of the things we were doing in training the boys applied into the game today. A well deserved win.”
KHFC will look to keep the perfect start to the season intact as they travel to Dayton to take on Dayton Dutch Lions FC this Wednesday the 28th. Fans are encouraged to travel to Dayton to cheer on the team or watch it via stream on Sports Engine Play.
