North Queensland gave former coach Ian Ferguson a hostile homecoming, dealing the new-appointed Perth tactician a 2-1 defeat in his first match in charge of the Glory.
Fury striker David Williams netted the winner in the 72nd minute at Dairy Farmer Stadium to give the hosts their first win since week two and stretch Perth’s losing streak to five matches.
Perth may have adjusted to the slippery conditions quicker but it was North Queensland that opened the scoring through Chris Payne, lashing his shot past the outstretched fingers of Aleks Vretseki in the 16th minute.
The hosts came close to doubling their advantage within when Perth’s defence failed to clear a corner.
But the wonder strike was promptly cancelled out by a defensive mix up. No amount of back-pedalling from Fury centre back Mark Hughes could deny Baird from linking with Anthony Skorich to tap in a 22nd minute equaliser.
North Queensland went on to control what remained of the opening stanza. Vice captain Gareth Edds was at the heart of the Fury’s most positive passages of play.
His first contribution was a dipping 38th minute cross that skimmed dangerously across the face of goal and on the far post where Brad McDonald was lurking. The winger's sweetly struck effort, however, crashed off the upright.
Edds then found himself on the end of a finely crafted Ufuk Talay chip, ghosting in behind Perth’s defence. The Glory, however, managed to quickly recover and shield Vrteski from being called upon again.
Driving rain at half-time seemed enough to give Perth sure footing in the game once again. Menacingly it was winger Todd Howard that whipped a dangerous ball into the box which again triggered panic in the Fury defence, only for Skorich to prod his shot over the bar.
Neither side created much going forward until the 72nd minute when Payne turned provider.
There was a sense of déjà vu about Williams’ 72nd minute goal, with Payne splitting the Glory defence with a intricately placed through ball to Williams who coolly slotted the winner.
A bounding run by substitute Sseppuya had Perth scrambling to hold the Fury who were flooding forward in numbers. The Ugandan’s final pass, however, caught Payne and Edds competing for the same patch of turf. There to latch onto the loose ball was Williams, who drilled his effort high of the mark.
The goal sparked a frantic ending to the match but neither side mounted any real threat on goal.
North Queensland Fury: 2 ( Payne 16 Williams 72)
Perth Glory: 2 (Baird 22)
Crowd: 4011 at Dairy Farmers Stadium, Townsville.