Evans scores on return after two-year absence
Chesterfield striker Ched Evans marked his return to professional football with the equaliser in their League One opening day draw at Oxford United.
The 27-year-old was sent to prison in 2012 for raping a 19-year-old woman, but had his conviction quashed by the Court of Appeal in April.
Welshman Evans is set for a retrial in October, having pleaded not guilty.
He had not played since April 2012, when he netted for Sheffield United against Leyton Orient.
Evans, who has always denied the charges against him, was released from prison in October 2014 after serving half of his five-year term.
The former Manchester City trainee came close to joining Oldham in January 2015, but the Latics withdrew their contract offer after threats were made to club staff.
The ex-Wales international agreed a one-year contract with the Spireites in June and scored in his first pre-season appearances against Ilkeston.
Evans' every touch at the Kassam Stadium was jeered by Oxford supporters, and the U's took the lead through a tap-in from Wes Thomas just after the half hour mark.
Evans missed two chances after the break but fired in from a 25-yard free-kick with 14 minutes remaining to clinch a point.
Line-ups
Oxford Utd
- 1Eastwood
- 22Long
- 5Nelson
- 33DunkleySubstituted forRuffelsat 40'minutesBooked at 75mins
- 3Skarz
- 11MacDonald
- 8Sercombe
- 4Lundstram
- 10MaguireSubstituted forRobertsat 64'minutes
- 20Taylor
- 9ThomasSubstituted forHemmingsat 81'minutes
Substitutes
- 7Crowley
- 13Buchel
- 14Ruffels
- 15Hemmings
- 18Rothwell
- 21Roberts
- 36Welch-Hayes
Chesterfield
- 12Fulton
- 2McGinn
- 16RaglanBooked at 8mins
- 19Donohue
- 6Evatt
- 7GardnerSubstituted forSimonsat 67'minutes
- 18NolanBooked at 73mins
- 5Liddle
- 28Ariyibi
- 9EvansSubstituted forDennisat 88'minutes
- 26O'Shea
Substitutes
- 11Mitchell
- 17Dimaio
- 20Dennis
- 21Allinson
- 22Simons
- 27Maguire
- 31Daley
- Referee:
- Gavin Ward
- Attendance:
- 8,679
Match Stats
- Possession
- Home46%
- Away54%
- Shots
- Home16
- Away8
- Shots on Target
- Home6
- Away5
- Corners
- Home3
- Away3
- Fouls
- Home7
- Away9
Live Text
Match ends, Oxford United 1, Chesterfield 1.
Full Time
Second Half ends, Oxford United 1, Chesterfield 1.
Josh Ruffels (Oxford United) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Rai Simons (Chesterfield).
Attempt saved. Kristian Dennis (Chesterfield) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Substitution
Substitution, Chesterfield. Kristian Dennis replaces Ched Evans.
Foul by Ian Evatt (Chesterfield).
Tyler Roberts (Oxford United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Ian Evatt (Chesterfield) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Tyler Roberts (Oxford United).
Substitution
Substitution, Oxford United. Kane Hemmings replaces Wes Thomas.
Attempt saved. Tyler Roberts (Oxford United) left footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Goal!
Goal! Oxford United 1, Chesterfield 1. Ched Evans (Chesterfield) from a free kick with a right footed shot to the bottom left corner.
Booking
Josh Ruffels (Oxford United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Gboly Ariyibi (Chesterfield) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Josh Ruffels (Oxford United).
Corner, Oxford United. Conceded by Dion Donohue.
Attempt blocked. Tyler Roberts (Oxford United) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Booking
Jon Nolan (Chesterfield) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Liam Sercombe (Oxford United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Jon Nolan (Chesterfield).
Gboly Ariyibi (Chesterfield) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Josh Ruffels (Oxford United).
Hand ball by Tyler Roberts (Oxford United).
Substitution
Substitution, Chesterfield. Rai Simons replaces Dan Gardner.
Attempt missed. Tyler Roberts (Oxford United) header from the left side of the box is just a bit too high.
Corner, Oxford United. Conceded by Charlie Raglan.
Attempt blocked. Liam Sercombe (Oxford United) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked.
Substitution
Substitution, Oxford United. Tyler Roberts replaces Chris Maguire.
Attempt missed. Ched Evans (Chesterfield) left footed shot from the left side of the box is close, but misses to the left.
Charlie Raglan (Chesterfield) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Josh Ruffels (Oxford United).
Corner, Chesterfield. Conceded by Simon Eastwood.
Attempt saved. Ched Evans (Chesterfield) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
Attempt saved. Gboly Ariyibi (Chesterfield) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.
Wes Thomas (Oxford United) hits the left post with a right footed shot from the centre of the box.
Foul by Dion Donohue (Chesterfield).
Alexander MacDonald (Oxford United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Gary Liddle (Chesterfield) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Alexander MacDonald (Oxford United).