FEW people get excited about pre-season friendlies, but after a 1-0 victory at Gainsborough last night, Scunthorpe United fans at least have more reason to be excited about the new season.

After Saturday's lacklustre defeat at FC Halifax Town, those Iron supporters making the short trip to The Northolme witnessed a considerably livelier performance, though with a lack of goals still causing some concern.

Injury and illness had robbed the visitors of some of their number, but, with a trip to Wycombe edging ever closer, those who did get a run-out looked eager to get back on boss Alan Knill's good side.

It's a well worn cliche, used by pretty much every footballer in the land, but many of these United players seem to accept this is a crucial campaign for them.

The proof, of course, will come in the League One pudding in a few weeks' time. This was a gentle stroll by comparison.

Given all he's been through in recent times however, for Garry Thompson even that was an achievement.

Still some way short of his best, or indeed full fitness, he nevertheless showed flashes of the talent Scunthorpe have sorely missed in his 45 minute outing.

The link-up play with Bobby Grant up front was by no means perfect, but both did, on several occasions, zone in on Trinity's goal.

With six minutes gone, Andy Barcham beat them both to it.

After Thompson lost the ball in the penalty area, the former Gillingham player was perfectly placed to curl it superbly past Phil Barnes and give his side the lead.

That was the start of an encouraging display from Knill's summer signing on the left wing.

Teaming up well with Andy Hughes, it proved to be a productive channel for the Iron, who looked determined to increase their tally.

Peppering Gainsborough's net, they came desperately close to increasing that score several times in the first half.

Mark Duffy drove the ball inches wide just after the deadlock was broken, before minutes later playing in Thompson, who was only prevented from getting on the scoresheet by a late interception from defender Andrew Boyce.

Sam Togwell, Barcham and Grant too, all tried their luck, the latter twice forcing decent stops from Barnes.

The first, on the half hour mark, was a cracking volley from a Hughes cross, which flew like an arrow straight at the keeper. The second was a fiercely struck effort from distance, forcing his nemesis for the night to tip the ball over the bar.

It is the final product which once more seemed to be missing from United. Not that their hosts fared much better in the opening 45 minutes.

A succession of threatening free-kicks and decent spells of possession yielded nothing. Shane Clarke's well struck effort was about the closest they came as it grazed the bar – small comfort for a side which romped past Brigg Town 8-0 at the weekend.

And Gainsborough stepped up the pressure after the interval, looking to test the recently installed Josh Lillis amid driving rain.

The Scunthorpe number one was one of just two changes made by Knill at half-time, taking over from Sam Slocombe, while Matt Godden relieved Thompson of his duties up front.

It was Grant who, once more, seemed most intent of bursting the net. Earning a free-kick on the edge of the area with the hour approaching, he could only thump it straight at the keeper.

It was to be the front man's final action of the evening as Knill brought on a flood of substitutions.

Hardly surprising, it made for a disjointed second half, with the hosts having drastically altered personnel during the break, and the match painfully petered out.

Based on their exploits in Halifax, this was an improvement by Scunthorpe. Knill will be hoping for a few more steps forward before August 6 comes around.

UNITED: Slocombe (Lillis 46), Wright (Palmer 61), Raynes (Reid 61), Canavan (Nelson 61), Hughes, Duffy (Wint 61), Togwell, Collins, Barcham (Dagnall 61), Thompson (Godden 46), Grant (Robertson 61).