MICHAEL O'Connor and Garry Thompson were noticeable absentees as Scunthorpe United beat Winterton Rangers 3-1 last night.

Both were expected to play at least some part after missing Saturday's opening pre-season match at Bottesford Town.

But manager Alan Knill was clearly unwilling to risk the pair, who he hopes will have a key role to play for the Iron in League One this season.

Inevitably though fans will question the continued absence of Thompson who missed nearly the whole of last season with a groin problem.

He has trained all summer, but if he is not ready for a gentle pre-season stretch like West Street last night, will he really be ready when the serious action starts in just over three weeks time?

All three of Scunthorpe's summer signings played in the first half, Jimmy Ryan taking just seven minutes to get a shot on target which was comfortably dealt with by Rangers keeper Jack Ward.

After both sides spurned chances, the opening goal arrived for the Iron with 23 minutes on the clock.

Rangers failed to clear their lines from a corner, allowing Andy Barcham to drill home in a crowded penalty area.

Winterton were lacking nothing in spirit – and were back on level terms in the 37th minute, Danny Barlow curling a left foot shot from the edge of the box past keeper Sam Slocombe.

Parity, though, lasted just three minutes as the visitors regained the lead through a Bobby Grant penalty, after Eddie Nolan had been felled.

With so many changes at the interval – as had been the case against Bottesford – the game lost some of its shape and momentum.

Rangers were still putting up stiff resistance, and they might have been back on level terms had Danny Frost made contact with an attempted volley as the ball flashed across the six-yard box.

But it was United who would score a decisive third in the 74th minute, Chris Dagnall netting on the turn from close range after good work by Andrew Wright down the right flank.

After all was said and done, this was another 45 minutes for each United player on the road to match fitness.

Their next test sees them take on Halifax at The Shay on Saturday.

But if both O'Connor and Thompson miss out again, it will only enhance speculation, with question marks over the latter's fitness and talk that the former may be on his way out of the club, having already seen a bid from Peterborough turned down this summer.

IRON TEAM (FIRST HALF): Slocombe, Palmer, Raynes, Reid, Nolan, Barcham, Duffy, Hughes, Ryan, Grant, Robertson.

IRON TEAM (SECOND HALF): Slocombe, Brogan, Canavan, Nelson, Wright, Green, Collins, Togwell, Godden, Dagnall, Tiryaki.