Seven Days Of U's Top 5 - Tribute To Yeates

THIS WEEK, Vital Colchester counts down all things U`s. Today, with the departure of winger Mark Yeates all-but confirmed we take a look at his top five goals in a U's shirt...

5) 2nd Vs Brentford (A) - 31/12/2005

Maybe not his greatest goal but Yeates capped a terrific man-of-the-match display at Griffin Park with a goal which sealed the U's three points. A U's counter-attack ended up with the dominant Yeates carefully prodding the ball home to send the traveling U's fans into 2006 on a high.

Yeates-O-Meter - 7.5/10

4) Vs Leamington (H) - 5/11/2005

Yeates scored his first goal in a blue and white shirt as the U's ran riot against the non-league minnows. The then on-loan Tottenham Hotspur forward collected a poor goal-kick before arrowing a right-footed shot into the top-right corner to put the U's 6-0 up. As The Brakes crumbled the U's ran out eventual 9-1 winners.

Yeates-O-Meter - 8.5/10

3) Vs Preston North End (A) - 25/08/2007

With the U's comfortably leading at Deepdale, thanks to a inspired performance from Teddy Sheringham, Yeates added gloss to a impressive win. After recently sealing a return to North Essex, on a permanent basis, the Irishman displayed a his dead-ball ability to U's fans. Yeates steered a curling 25-yard effort around the North End wall and beyond the 'keeper.

Yeates-O-Meter - 9/10

2) Vs Southend United (A) - 01/11/2008

Despite going 2-0 down in the Essex Derby at Roots Hall the U's recovered to lead the game 3-2, with Yeates netting the U's second. With twenty-minutes to go the U's play-maker drove into the box before twisting and turning his way past several challenges in typical 'Yeatesy Style'. As he bear down on he lashed a powerful shot into the back of the net and celebrated in style.

Yeates-O-Meter - 9.5/10

1) Vs Leeds United (A) - 13/12/2008

No surprise that his greatest goal in U's shirt was from a free-kick. In the second half at Elland Road, after initially going 1-0 down, Deam Hammond had dragged the U's level on the stroke of half-time. U's fans were hoping their side could nick a goal and head back South with three points on a cold December afternoon. And when the U's were rewarded a free-kick, in a position which looked impossible to score from, they probably weren't expecting what happened next. As Yeates stepped over the ball, most people inside the ground were expecting a cross, but Yeates whipped a sublime, world-class effort into the far top-corner. The ball cannoned in off the post and put the U's ahead in a historic win.

Yeates-O-Meter - 10/10

Leeds United 1-2 Colchester United from Stoobies on Vimeo.

For the very latest League One odds

Click here to join in the debate on the club forum.