Colin Nixon scored a stoppage-time goal to give the Glens their first win of the JJB Sports Premiership campaign.

They had trailed when Francis Murphy headed Cliftonville into a fifth-mintue lead and it could have been 2-0 as Chris Scannell's shot hit a post.

Gary Hamilton equalised from a Michael Halliday head down, but the Glens had Jamie McGovern red-carded for swinging out at Cliftonville's Davy McAlinden.

Nixon scored from a tight angle with a blistering shot.

Keeper Connolly got a touch on the ball but could not keep it out.

Glentoran's Colin Nixon:

"It was a massive game. It sounds funny only three matches into a new season but the pressure was on us and we were feeling it.

"Hopefully this will push us on to better things.

"When Jamie was sent-off I felt we were on top. I was disappointed for him, he was maybe a bit silly.

"When you go a man down you think it is backs against the wall but it actually helped us. We played a bit of football and deserved to win."