Two-goal hero Mark Yeates admitted it was a relief to help Colchester United finally register their first win at the new stadium.

The U’s thrashed Carlisle United 5-0 to get off the mark in style at the Weston Homes Community Stadium.

It ended Colchester’s run of six games without a victory at the venue and was their first win in front of their own fans for more than six months.

Yeates scored twice in the triumph and conceded it was about time the U’s gave their fans something to shout about.

He told the Gazette: “It’s a relief for everyone to get the first home win and it’s one that was overdue.

“These are our home fans watching us and we have to get them behind us.

“In the last couple of home games, we haven’t really given them anything to shout about.

“The Bristol Rovers game was flat and the MK Dons game was disastrous all round.

“It was important to have a good all-round performance and great to score five goals.”

Paul Lambert has made an impressive start to his reign as Colchester manager, securing two wins in his first three games as boss since taking over earlier this month.

The U’s will be hoping to continue that form tomorrow when they travel to play Northampton Town in Coca-Cola League One, followed by the Essex derby against Southend United at Roots Hall this weekend.

Yeates is hoping the U’s can now build on their win over Carlisle and earn more points on their travels.

“We have two more games now in quick succession and hopefully six more points from them will have us looking at the right end of the table,” said the former Tottenham Hotspur trainee.

“There’s a lot of belief in all of us and we’re definitely a lot more in people’s faces.

“We looked really good but now it’s a case of us kicking on.”

Yeates’ brace against the Cumbrians took his personal tally for the season to six.

He revealed he is hoping to reach double figures by the turn of the year, while continuing to provide chances for his team-mates.

He added: “I’ve set myself a target of getting at least ten goals by Christmas and I’m heading the right way.

“But we’re all in the team to do jobs and if I’m not scoring or making goals then I’d have to take a look at myself.

“But luckily enough things are going well and we’re all working hard as a unit.”