FREE-scoring Cherries star James Hayter carved his name in the Dean Court hall of fame and then dedicated his latest goals to his parents.

Hayter became the club's 10th highest post-war league goalscorer when he netted twice to spearhead Cherries to victory at Milton Keynes Dons on Saturday (August 21).

And his double saw him leapfrog Ronnie Bolton in the club's list of top marksmen and also helped Cherries secure their first Coca-Cola League One win of the season.

The 25-year-old has now hit 49 goals in 235 league appearances and his four-goal haul is the best start to a season by a Cherries player since Steve Jones bagged five in four in 1995.

Hayter, who also scored against Walsall and Bristol City, re-wrote the club's record books in front of his proud parents, Richard and Mary, who were among the crowd at the National Hockey Stadium.

The couple had both missed his record-breaking hat-trick heroics against Wrexham last season when they had to leave Dean Court early to catch a ferry back to their Isle of Wight home.

Hayter, speaking exclusively to the Daily Echo, said: "I was disappointed they didn't get to see the Wrexham hat-trick so it was nice to get a couple of goals for them.

"They stayed at my house for a couple of days last week and helped out with our baby on Friday because we stayed overnight. It was great to put in a good performance and also to get couple of goals."

Hayter, who has also passed 1970s legend Phil Boyer in the club's leading goalscorers' charts, added: "I just want to score as many goals as I can."

"I've been pretty happy with the way things have gone this season and the goals have come as well. If I keep up the performance levels then hopefully the goals will come and I can keep the run going."

Hayter also rattled the post with a stunning right-foot shot midway through the second half and capped an impressive individual display by setting up Carl Fletcher for Cherries' third in the final minute.

He said: "It was probably our worst performance so far. We weren't too happy with the first-half display, even though we went in a goal up.

"At half-time, the manager told us that we seemed to be doing everything to throw the game away. We were giving the ball away in bad areas and sitting too deep and allowing them to put balls into the box which is always dangerous.

"Although they scored the penalty which was a setback, I think we rallied around, put them under pressure and got a well-deserved win.

"We played well in our first three games and probably didn't get what we deserved so it was nice to get the three points on the board."

When asked by a reporter during a post-match press conference whether the club may find it difficult to keep hold of Hayter should his scoring run continue, Cherries boss Sean O'Driscoll said: "In some senses, we would be delighted if somebody came in with a massive bid for him."

O'Driscoll added: "He's an unassuming character and when Warren Feeney left for Stockport, we offered him the number nine jersey but he didn't want it.

"He's been a goalscorer ever since his youth days and if you give him a chance, invariably he puts it away.

"Until you work with players, sometimes you don't really know how good they are and James is one of those unsung heroes who has played everywhere and always gives 100 per cent.

"We've worked with him for a while and we know how good he can be. It's what other people see that counts if you are going to sell a player."

PANEL SUGGESTION

Cherries' post-war football league goalscorers (top 10)1 Ted MacDougall 1192 Dickie Dowsett 793 Stan Newsham 743 Steve Fletcher 745 Doug McGibbon 656 Jack Cross 647 Luther Blissett 56 8 Ray Bumstead 559 Steve Robinson 51 10 James Hayter 49