Sam Dreyer delivers 'immense' performance against Scunthorpe United on his Harrogate Town debut

The 22-year-old centre-half only joined the Sulphurites from Torquay United in midweek, but was selected to start Saturday’s National League trip to Scunthorpe United.

And the imposing defender slotted seamlessly into the middle of Simon Weaver’s back three as a 2-0 success was secured at Glanford Park.

Despite it being the first time that Dreyer had featured in a game above the sixth tier of English football, he did not look out of place and certainly impressed his new manager.

“I thought that Sam was immense from minute one,” the Harrogate boss told BBC Radio York.

"He is a big, strong boy and was slapping his head on it, but he can play as well. He’s got the lot.

"He asserted himself in training straight away and we had no doubts about putting him in [the starting XI]. We were confident.

"He comes across as confident, and he’s settled straight in. It has coincided with us getting a clean-sheet, so that should do a lot for his confidence.”

A fine Will McGowan strike from outside the box and Shawn McCoulsky’s composed finish ultimately earned Town all three points, but that aforementioned clean sheet was their first of the campaign.

And boss Weaver was delighted to see his team keep the back door bolted firmly shut.

"The clean sheet is what we have been after, to look a more complete side,” he added.

"We got that today, and hopefully it is the first of many.”

Saturday’s win lifts Town up to second place in the National League standings, where they sit on 13 points from their first six matches of 2026/27.