Real football. Real excitement. Real heart. And for the first time this season, the REAL Glentoran stood up to be counted during an engaging 90 minutes at The Oval.

Buoyed by the arrival of new signing Andy Waterworth, Glentoran claimed their first victory of the new look JJB Sports Premiership despite an out-of-sorts first 25 minutes of the game.

In the early going, the Glens were struggling to get to grips with the game, and with a Cliftonville team who moved the ball about at pace, causing problems and asking questions of the home side all over the pitch.

It took only 4 minutes for the Reds to open the scoring, when Rory Hamill's corner was nodded in at the near post by Francis Murphy, after Elliott Morris had committed to come for the cross, leaving his goal vacant.

Within the opening quarter of the game, Cliftonville threatened to put the game beyond the Glens but firstly Murphy, and then Chris Scannell failed to capitalise on poor defensive play, the former producing a good save from Morris, while the latter saw his effort rattle the crossbar.

The Glens only retaliation until that point was a tame Gary Hamilton effort, when the forward may have been wiser to play the ball to Michael Halliday or Kyle Neill who were well placed.

But suddenly the Glens came to life, finally stringing together a few passes to create space for Daryl Fordyce on the left wing. His cross to the near post was almost turned in by Halliday, but David McAlinden was on hand turn the ball behind for a corner.

From the corner, both Paul Leeman and Jason Hill saw efforts cleared off the line as Cliftonville began to live a charmed life.

Moments later, Halliday tested Connolly with a left footed effort from the edge of the box, and it looked like the Glens may be finding a way back into the game.

And on 39 minutes Gary Hamilton leveled the score. Shane McCabe played the ball into the box, and Halliday rose highest to flick the ball on for Hamilton's volley, which found the top corner after a wicked bounce gave Connolly no chance.

Before the break Hill saw a shot fly too high and too wide, while Halliday's header also failed to test the 'keeper. But it was when McCabe was fouled by three Red's players that Hamilton looked most likely to put the home side ahead.

His curling 30 yard free-kick left Connolly grasping at air, but curled just wide of the target.

After a shaky start to the game and the season, Alan McDonald's men were finally starting to look like the team they can become.

The second half started with a bang, and within 10 minutes Hamilton had shot over, while Nixon had another effort cleared from the goal line.

At the other end, Mark Patterson capitalised on poor play from Sean Ward to run clear through on goal, but under pressure from Morris, the forward scuffed his shot wide of goal.

At the midway point of the half, there came the most controversial 5 minutes of the game. Firstly, as Fordyce attempted to get his head to a left wing cross, he was on the receiving end of a high foot from a Reds defender, but despite the obviously dangerous nature of the clearance, referee Mark Courtney made no decision.

Within moments the Glens were reduced to 10 men. Jamie McGovern was involved in an off the pitch incident with McAlinden. The ball had gone out of play for a throw-in, when the incident occurred, and after consulting with his assistant, Courtney was prompt to give McGovern his marching orders.

When play resumed, visiting players and fans alike soon felt they had a strong penalty claim, alleging that a shot struck an arm of Paul Leeman, but Courtney again waved the allegations away.

With a little over 15 minutes left, McDonald was forced to withdraw Hamilton through injury, and it looked like the 10 men may have to settle for a point.

But spurred on by the defiant midfield trio of McCabe, Fordyce and substitute Dean Fitzgerald, the Glens continued to probe for the winner, and Darren Boyce perhaps should have done better when well placed, but his attempted chip of Connolly was not strong enough and the 'keeper gathered the ball comfortably.

The winning goal finally came deep into stoppage time. With 3 minutes and 20 seconds on the clock, Elliott Morris' free kick fell to Nixon in the box. After evading a challenge, the experienced full-back riffled a shot goalward that was too hot to handle, and Connolly could only palm it into his own net.

Nixon has scored many important goals in his illustrious Glentoran career, but how important this strike will be will only become clear in the coming months. But for now, it gave his team vital 3 points, and helped build a head of steam to take into the Setanta Cup game this Tuesday, and the JJB Sports Premiership clash with Bangor at the Oval next Saturday.