Evans Treble sees off Spireites

Sheffield United 4-1 Chesterfield
Bramall Lane, npower League 1
Att: 20,159

Sheffield United swapped places with Steel City rivals Wednesday by seeing off Chesterfield thanks to a blistering second-half hat-trick from Ched Evans (right).

The Welshman took his tally for the season to 30 goals and saw United climb to 2nd in their bid to nick the other automatic spot, while leaving John Sheridan’s men rock bottom and taking the gloss off their week following Sunday’s Johnstone’s Paint Trophy final win at Wembley.

The probability of these sides being two divisions apart next season increased dramatically thanks to the former Manchester City striker. However, the visitors were more than good value for parity at the break, as their buoyant mood followed on from the weekend to frustrate the hosts, and the majority of the 20000 inside Bramall Lane.

It was left to Lee Williamson to break the deadlock in emphatic fashion when he volleyed a scorcher in to the roof of the net 38 minutes in, after good build up play by Marcus Williams and Evans. The Spireites responded quickly through Leicester City loanee Franck Moussa though, as he wriggled free in a tackle before unleashing a left foot curler past a despairing Steve Simonsen from 25 yards out just before the interval.

The contrasting attire of the two managers summed up the resources at their disposal. The sharp-suited Danny Wilson had a £3M striker in Evans on the pitch to turn the game (and how), much to the envy of the bedraggled Sheridan, the unkempt former Owl, who had swapped his Cup final suit for a less flattering untucked polo shirt and tracksuit bottoms.

The Welshman’s first was simple enough, a routine penalty tucked in to the corner following Alexandre Mendy’s trip on Matt Lowton three minutes in to the second half. Evans’ tally for the evening was doubled with a 59th minute finish which was almost audacious in its uncomplicated nature – Williamson squaring a free kick from level with the six yard box for the number nine to sweep home.

Evans wasn’t done there. And, moments after striking the base of the post from range, he wrapped up his sixteen minute treble, and the game, in sumptuous style by breaking free in the box to smash past Tommy Lee in to the roof of the net from an acute angle.

The acclaim for the classy striker was unrelenting and Sheridan, whose outfit hadn’t reflected his side’s performance, could only watch on in admiration as Evans stood on the advertising hoardings in front of the Kop to receive the rich praise he merited for leaving the Spireites nine points from safety.

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