Ashley Vincent & Mark Yeates scored early in the first half to give United yet another way-day success.

Colchester United's impressive away record continued this afternoon as a quick fire first half double saw the North Essex club record their 14th away win of the season. Ashley Vincent, with his first goal in U's colours, and Mark Yeates grabbed the goals in what was all in all another comfortable performance for the U's.
With an eye on the season and his Monday clearout, Paul Lambert offered a chance to to two of his squad with Matt Heath and Scott Vernon given a chance to stake their claims to staying at the Weston Homes Community Stadium next season. Chris Coyne was relegated to the bench alongside Clive Platt with Johnnie Jackson making a late return from injury with them.
United, at the scene of their promotion party three years ago started brightly with Yeates volleying an effort straight at Chris Weale after just a few seconds. Dean Gerken, Pat Baldwin and John White all started that game with Izzet on the bench and Mark Yeates sitting it out through injury.
Just before the quarter hour mark, the U's took a vital and decisive two goal lead. Ashley Vincent caught out Weale with an early shot after good work from Yeates but it has to be said that better defending from the hosts would have prevented the goal. Less than a hundred seconds later, and it was Yeates - who will finish the season as leading goalscorer - who fired past Weale from the edge of the box after a sweeping U's move which involved Vernon and Kem Izzet.
Yeovil, who had only recently confirmed their divisional status, seemed to lack the cutting edge to worry the U's though Townsend almost capped off a long run with a stunning goal only to run out of puff. Gerken saved a Welsh shot which bounced just in front of him while at the other end, Izzet saw his shot deflected wide just before the break.
Neither side made a change at the break and Gerken was called in to action early on as he palmed away John Obika's volley. Ashley Vincent was then subbed in place of Johnnie Jackson. Gerken was beaten all ends up by Murtagh but was very relieved to see the ball rebound off the post and away from danger. Platt replaced Vernon before Gerken's best save of the afternoon with a reaction effort from Alcock's volley which he struck in to the ground. Lambert would still have been concerned by the space afforded to the Yeovil man though.
With time running out, Yeovil manager Terry Skiverton took off his goalkeeper Chris Weale to a raptous reception - more likely to do with his recent goal that helped the Huish Park side's survival cause than his performance this afternoon. Kem Izzet who started his 300th game for the U's this afternoon, was replaced by Anthony Wordsworth and it was the young midfielder who had the last chance of the season as he blasted over at the far post following another decent U's move.
Lambert will have been thrilled with his side's away record this season, but knows that their home form must improve if they are to be a force to be reckoned with next campaign. It will be an interesting summer to see who he thinks can, and cannot, lead United back to the The Championship this time next year.

U's: Gerken, Maybury, Baldwin, Heath, Tierney, Yeates, Hammond, Izzet (Wordsworth 72), Hackney, Vincent (Jackson 55), Vernon (Platt 72)
Subs not used: Cousins, & Coyne
Yeovil: Weale (Wagenaar 85), Alcock, Forbes, Brown, Smith, Welsh (Downes 82), Schofield, Murtagh, Townsend, Tomlin, Obika (Warne 75)
Subs not used: Fitzgerald & Maguire
Ref: F Graham
Att: 5,237

Photo: Action Images

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