Hartlepool United goalscorer Gavan Holohan reflects on 1-1 draw at Sutton United and the 'weird feeling' as National League matches go ahead despite coronavirus outbreak

Gavan Holohan of Hartlepool United celebrates scoring their first goal during the Vanarama National League match between Sutton United and Hartlepool United at the Knights Community Stadium, Gander Green Lane,, Sutton on Saturday 14th March 2020. (Credit: Paul Paxford | MI News) SUTTON, ENGLAND - MARCH 14TH

The Hartlepool United midfielder celebrated his new two-year deal by netting a well-taken equaliser soon after half-time to cancel out Isaac Olaofe's early opener.

“I’m pleased to get on the scoresheet and it’s a nice way to compliment the new contract but it would have been sweeter to come away with the three points,” Holohan said.

“[Josh Hawkes] played a great ball over the top for [Luke Molyneux] and he’s cut inside and laid it on a plate for me really.

“It was a good weighted pass and it was just about steering it into the far corner and luckily it has gone in. I knew what I wanted to do, as soon as Mols had the ball I knew if he slipped it inside then I would try and go for the far corner so I was just pleased it went in.

“We were flat in the first half but we had some words at half-time and came out better in the second half – we probably deserved the draw.”

The coronavirus outbreak has cast a cloud of uncertainty over the National League with all other professional football in the country suspended until at least April 4.

“Speaking to some of [the Sutton] players, they were saying the feeling coming into the game was really weird,” Holohan admitted.

“But we can’t have that excuse, we just have to make sure we put that to the back of our minds and get on with it.”