Perth Glory have fallen to their first defeat of the A-League Women season and let slip a golden opportunity to move equal top of the ladder after losing 1-0 Canberra United at HBF Park.

The previously-winless Canberra were bottom of the table heading into the match, but frustrated a disappointing Perth outfit in the first half before punishing them in the second.

Emily Condon’s 55th minute strike was the first goal Glory have conceded this campaign, and proved the difference between the two sides as Perth produced their worst showing of the season.

After a promising start, Perth were sloppy in possession and looked one-dimensional in attack, but other results mean they still sit in second spot on the ladder, tied with Melbourne Victory.

Glory impressed early and quickly got on top in midfield as Georgia Cassidy swung the ball to runners out wide in space, while Emma Tovar was able to find pockets and dink the ball in behind enemy lines.

The hosts almost took the lead nine minutes in when Tovar hit Ella Buchanan on the right and the full-back’s nudge up the line ended in a Rola Badawiya cut-back to Susan Phonsongkham, only for Liz Anton to head the goal-bound strike away from danger.

As the half continued though, the late-afternoon heat looked to drain players from both sides as chances were kept at a minimum and passes became increasingly waylaid.

Onyi Zogg and Baxter Thew were able to keep Canberra star Michelle Heyman quiet up one end and the visitors struggled to test Alyssa Dall’Oste in goal.

But Perth also struggled to test out ex-Glory shot-stopper Sally James - who hurt her hand in the warm-up and sported strapping tape underneath her glove.

Another former Glory player in Anton found herself in the thick of the action as she was booked just before the half-hour mark, and then was perhaps fortunate to escape a second booking soon after when she kicked the ball away after giving away a free-kick.

Despite Glory having more than 60 per cent possession in the opening 45 and completing 100 more passes than their opponents, the teams entered half-time on level terms.

And after starting the second half better, Canberra hit the front when a half-cleared ball ricocheted to Condon and she flicked the ball in behind and finished with aplomb.

Dall’Oste kept the deficit at just one goal not long after when she foiled Haymen after the Matildas striker got in behind, but the visitors grew in confidence and were able to see off Perth’s relatively tame advances late.