GROTON, Mass. - The annual Fall Long Weekend Friday match up and local Zebra derby between hosts Groton and visitors Middlesex provided an entertaining match that went end-to-end in the second half. 

Middlesex jumped on the board early, as Bryan Mayhew slipped in behind the defense on a well-timed feed from Adriano Valmora to make it 1-0 in the fifth minute. 

As the first half wore on, the visitors created several close scoring chances but were thwarted by a steadfast Wanli Zhang in the Groton net. Valmora created some breathing room in the latter stages of the first half, as he latched on to a through ball from Billy Zuze to double the Middlesex lead in the 40th minute. 

Groton showed resolute determination after the intermission and pushed balls into the Middlesex half to create chaos and press on to create some looks at goal.  They were rewarded with a corner kick in the 61st minute that Middlesex failed to clear and, after a pinball scrum, the ball fell to Oluwaferanmi Adelakin's feet for a close range finish to draw the match back to 2-1. 

Groton continued to pump runners and balls forward for the next 20 minutes, as Middlesex hung on but suffered from some wayward passing and good pressure from the home side.  Rather than finding the equalizer, it was Mayhew who put the match out of reach, off another great feed from Valmora.  Valmora then closed the match out with an emphatic blast that found the roof of the net for the 4-1 final. 

The scoreline did not do justice to the effort and spirit shown by the Groton boys, as their second half performance was excellent.  Adelakin was a menace up top, and Jiayang Kang and Roberto Pignataro were solid in the Groton midfield. 

For Middlesex, Mayhew's brace and Valmora's two goal and two assist performances were the difference, while Zuze's two assists and Hanad Garad's work rate stood out in the midfield.