The Hockeyroos' World Cup campaign overcame an early hurdle in a 1-0 win over a cynical Spanish outfit at Perth Hockey Stadium.

Spain played for a draw from the outset, frustrating the Australians by flooding the defensive circle and it worked until the 61st minute.

Captain Katrina Powell scored the matchwinner after the faintest of touches from a 40-metre pass from veteran defender Louise Dobson.

The result leaves Australia on top of pool B with the Netherlands after two rounds of matches.

Australian coach David Bell should feel he has dodged a bullet with the negative tactics of the Europeans succeeding until the last ten minutes.

Each team plays seven pool matches with the top two teams in each eight-nation group making the semi-finals.

Australia started off lethargically against the defensive-minded Spaniards who turned the game into a stop-start affair.

The visitors at times had all of their players in the defensive circle but the home team had enough opportunities to open the breakthrough with midfielder Karen Smith blowing one in the 21st minute.

The Queenslander had a good position directly in front of goal but failed to direct her hit which wobbled wide to make a 0-0 halftime score.

Seventeen-year-old Susannah Harris was lively after coming off the bench to make her international debut in the 26th minute.

The Hockeyroos looked slightly more purposeful after the break and Julie Towers flicked her shot just wide of the goals in the 41st minute.

But the home team showed more and more frustration with Spain's tactics as the match wore on.

However just under ten minutes from time the two old heads of Dobson and Powell combined to hand the home team the valuable three points.

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