CONCORD, Mass. - The Zebra Derby reignited on a Friday afternoon before a Fall Long Weekend and the rain broke just in time for a mild set of conditions on the turf at Middlesex, as they hosted Groton on Friday afternoon.

Groton lived up to their billing as a resilient, relentless, and talented team that never gives up on a play. While the scoreline was 3-0 at halftime to Middlesex, there wasn't much that was comfortable and the second half evened out in the end. 

Adriano Valmora (Montreal, Quebec) opened the scoring in the fourth minute from a set piece, and Noah Helfgott (London, England) doubled the lead 12 minutes later. 

Will McCarthy (Concord, Mass.) smashed home a close-range goal into the roof of the net in the 41st minute, but Feranmi Adelakin and Jiayang Kang were a constant threat on the direct counterattack, while Rex Hudson stood out as Groton's best defender. 

The second half saw a less frenetic pace, as there was more possession and fewer chances to speak of. The best goal of the day came in the 83rd minute, as Long Nguyen (Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam) and Callen Cafua (Andover, Mass.) combined and switched the point of attack to Valmora, who cut in on his defender and unleashed a knuckler into the far side net from just inside the penalty area to extend the lead to 4-0. 

Groton's persistence paid off, as they were awarded a penalty kick for a clear handball in the area that was dispatched by Adelakin. It was a deserved goal for the work rate, energy, and physicality that he brought throughout the 90 minutes. 

It was a well-played rivalry match that saw Valmora, McCarthy, and Helfgott stand out for the hosts.