AFTER the stormy summer they've had, the last thing Nortel needed on Saturday was to have two somewhat contentious goals scored against them, never mind having two players sent off.
But at least new manager Craig McMahon and assistant Bobby Brown will be heartened by the spirit shown, though they'll be fully aware that they still need a few more new faces to bolster up what understandably isn't the best prepared first team squad in this season's Premier Division.
Indeed, things looked ominous when Newington roared into a first minute lead, thanks to some rather sub standard defending by the Doagh Road side.
After the trials and tribulations of the close season, which culminated with Jamsie Todd resigning as Manager last month, you might have expected a few heads to drop, but to Nortel's credit they dug in and bounced back just ten minutes later; the much travelled Rab Butler racing onto to a Stuart Conlin pass to fire past the helpless keeper.
The Factory side were celebrating again on 20 minutes when Butler inflicted more damage, depositing the ball into the empty net from some 25 yards, after the Newington custodian had rushed out but failed to clear his lines.
Nortel, alas, couldn't hang on until the break, and two quick replies from Newington again left them playing 'catch up', although the Doagh Road side were disappointed that at least one of the two wasn't blown for offside.
McMahon's Men, nonetheless, resumed in determined fashion and another debut goal, this time from Eric Moore - a header from a Conlin cross - had them once more back on a level footing.
Nortel could have went one better had Butler not been denied his hat-trick by the thickness of the post.
Instead, it was the North Belfast side who again pinched the lead, and this time the Nortel diehards were even more aggrieved at the absence of what they thought should have been an obvious offside whistle.
And it was going to be an even longer road back once Nortel's eleven were reduced to nine, following the dismissal of the Moore brothers, along with a Newington player.
Nortel tried their best for the remainder, but it was visitors Newington who held out for a hard earned three points.
Nortel: Hamilton – Bloomfield (Baillie), McMinn, Kyle, L Galbraith – Conlin, Faulkner (McLeod), R Moore, Furgrove (Smyth) – E Moore, Butler.
Players In - Scott Hamilton, G, ex Kilbride Swifts; Lee Galbraith, M/ D, Ballynure OB; Danny McClelland, M, Queens; Davy Dickson, M, Holywood FC: Andy McLeod, M, ex Greenisland Boys.