IT was only round one but complacency nearly cost Waratahs in their Western Premier League opener against Orana Spurs on Sunday.

Waratahs were able to record a 1-nil win at home to start their title defence with three points following a Tim Davidson strike in the second half.

But the victory should have come easier with Waratahs goalkeeper Adam Brakenridge admitting his side was expecting to flog the Dubbo side.

“We were pretty much on top of them for all of the game but we didn’t play the way we have been training,” Brakenridge said.

“We didn’t play too well really.

“I think mentally, because they’re an underachieving team we thought we were going to thump them.”

Waratahs were on top from the outset but Brakenridge believes his side played too direct as everyone was lining up to put one past the Spurs keeper.

The home side spent the first half trying to put one past Spurs and they started to get frustrated when the goals weren’t flowing.

“We peppered their goal all game and their keeper pulled off some screamers,” Brakenridge said.

Waratahs settled themselves down at half-time and played better after the break.

The more composed approach then culminated in what proved to be the match winner with Davidson controlling the ball on the edge of the box before guiding it past the Spurs custodian.

Waratahs had been on top for most of the game but the goal changed the dynamic of the match with Spurs going on the offensive looking for an equaliser.

They were unable to beat Brakenridge and he is happy starting the season with a clean sheet.

“Once we scored they went all out attack and we had a bit of defending to do,” he said.

“They had a couple of okay opportunities but the defence was good.”

Waratahs now face their nemesis Bathurst ‘75 next Sunday with these match-ups traditionally going a long way to deciding the minor premiership.

Brakenridge says the win over Spurs is a good lead-up because they came away with the three points although it would have been totally different if they had been unable to conjure a winner.

“It definitely gives us that confidence going in with a win but if we had have had a draw or a loss we would have been thinking if we lose this one we’ve dropped two games,” he said.

In the other game, Westside Panthers flogged Dubbo FC 10-2 while Lithgow started the season with the bye.

WARATAHS 1 (Tim Davidson) def ORANA SPURS 0.