The opening five minutes of the match set the tone for the afternoon, with furious running and tactical manoeuvring from both sides.

Merredin, at an advantage with a healthy four man bench, seemed full of run.

Injured Merredin goalie Chris Fryer rang the changes from the sidelines, while young Alex Pope and fellow forwards Wayne Middleton and Eric Enright caused mischief in Merredin’s attacking half.

Steve Bolt and Craig Larke helped keep the wolves at bay for Corrigin and their own attackers, Jim Morris and Sean Bolt, being ably fed by the assured touches of Garrick Connolly, tested Merredin’s experienced defence.

A succession of short corners for Merredin proved fruitless in the latter stages of the first half, and perhaps Tim Bennett’s pushing out duties will be farmed out next game.

The half time whistle eventually blew on a nilall scoresheet, but neither side would have felt robbed as both had had chances go begging.

Part time Merredin goalie Jamie Gouldthorp would have breathed a sigh of relief early in the second half when a sturdy strike on goal slipped inside his pad rather than through the goal.

His pirouette searching for the ball was pure comedy, but perhaps the close call spurred the Merredin boys into action.

Epitomising Merredin’s desire for a long sought win was Ben Postan’s stirring run and tackle, and as both sides tired it could also have been his continued defensive efforts that inspired Merredin’s second half efforts.

Strong play through the centre of the ground, a hallmark of Merredin’s possession game all day, ended in opportunities at their attacking end.

One such foray sparked a commotion at Merredin’s goal mouth, with Scott Ridge’s deft feed to the spot being pounced on by rookie Chris Wardell, who sent the ball through Corrigin goalie Corey Weaglin’s legs and into the back board.

Corrigin’s pride had been wounded. Captain Nigel Seczecinski, along with the creative midfield run of Morris, Connolly and Sean Bolt illustrated Corrigin’s refusal to lie down.