STEVE Fletcher netted twice for the eighth time in his career to carve his name in Cherries history - but admitted his "heart just sank" after he had been denied his maiden hat-trick.

Fletcher became the club's fifth highest league goalscorer when he bagged a first-half brace during Cherries' 2-2 draw against Division Two rivals Barnsley at Dean Court on Saturday.

The 31-year-old targetman took his place among the Cherries greats when he marked his 350th league appearance for the club by taking his career league goal tally to 66.

But the popular Teessider was left to curse Barnsley goalkeeper Sasa Ilic after his stunning second-half save from Fletcher's fierce volley denied the striker his first treble at first-team level.

Fletcher, who scored a four-timer in a reserve game in March 1995, said: "I'm starting to believe that I'm never going to get a hat-trick, especially after I had hit the volley as well as I did in the second half.

"I composed myself, picked my spot in the bottom corner and he (Ilic) pulled off a fantastic save. My heart just sank. As I prepared to shoot, I thought to myself this is it, but it didn't come off.

"It happens, but it's more disappointing because we didn't get the three points. If we had won 2-1, I could have accepted not getting a hat-trick 100 times more.

"It's eluded me for 11 years and I think now that if it's ever going to happen, it's got to happen inside one half when I haven't got time to think about it.

"I came in at half-time and it was the only thing I could think about. It could have happened in the first half because I had a couple of other half chances."

AFC Bournemouth all-time Football League leading goalscorers - top 10

1. Ronnie Eyre 203

2. Ted MacDougall 119

3. Dickie Dowsett 79

4. Stan Newsham 74

5. Steve Fletcher 66

6. Jack McGibbon 65

7. Jack Cross 64

8. Joe Riley 57

9. Luther Blissett 56

10. Ray Bumstead 55

Fletcher opened the scoring when he headed home a James Hayter cross in the 27th minute before Barnsley equalised through Craig Ireland seven minutes from the interval.

But Fletcher restored Cherries' lead just 60 seconds later when he seized on a defensive mix-up between Ilic and Tykes midfielder Brian O'Callaghan.

The Cherries club captain managed to hook the ball home from around 12 yards despite sitting on the ground after he had been floored during a collision involving Ilic and O'Callaghan.

Fletcher said: "I think the lad was waiting for the goalkeeper to come and although I knew I wasn't going to get there first, I thought I might be able to cause a commotion between the two of them.

"I got my size 10s in between them and managed to score while I was sitting on the ground. It wasn't a pretty goal, but I wish I could get a few more like that because I don't get many where I create them myself.

"It shows practice makes perfect though because sometimes the injured lads play crab football in training and you have to keep your backside on the ground - just like I did today!"

Fletcher added: "I felt I was going to score every time the ball came into the box today. I was happy with the way I had played in our first two games, but my movement in the box was a bit static.

"We worked in the week on me gambling across defenders and attacking balls more rather than laying them off at the back stick and it paid off today.

"When I sit down, I will probably be pleased with the two goals, but we needed the win more than anything.

"If we had won and I had failed to score a hat-trick, I would only be miserable for an hour. But because we didn't win and I didn't score three, I will be miserable all weekend now."