CHERRIES star Brett Pitman closed in on two more memorable milestones before expressing a desire to extend his stay at Dean Court.

Pitman bagged one of the finest goals of his career to put the gloss on Cherries’ emphatic 5-1 win over Championship strugglers Fulham on Friday.

The Jerseyman raced from inside his own half and skipped past three defenders before slotting the ball past Cottagers goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli to give Cherries a 3-0 lead.

It was his second goal of the game – and his 92nd in the league for Cherries – leaving him two behind James Hayter in the club’s list of all-time leading marksmen.

Pitman has plundered a total of 98 league and cup goals in two spells for Cherries and is currently fifth in the goalscorers’ hall of fame at Dean Court.

The 27-year-old, a product of the club’s youth ranks, penned a three-and-a-half year contract when he rejoined Cherries for a bargain £60,000 from Bristol City in January 2013, following a loan spell.

Pitman, who has shared a second striker’s role with Yann Kermorgant, told the Daily Echo: “I want to keep scoring goals and stay in the team. Yann has been doing well and I got my chance and managed to nick a couple of goals in a good performance.

“Hopefully, it has given the manager a headache for the next game. But whoever he plays, either myself or Yann will take it on the chin and back the other one, like we always do.

“Records are nice but you don’t go on the pitch thinking I want to break this or that one.

"But I would love to be as high as I can in the list and, hopefully, stay here for a lot longer than this year and next that I’ve got left on my contract.

“I don’t think there is anybody in our squad who wants to move on or go anywhere. We are playing such good football and, as a squad, everybody backs each other whether they are in the team or not and it is an enjoyable place to be.”

Pitman, who also hit 77 goals at youth and reserve team level for Cherries, was voted Sky Sports man of the match following his exploits at Craven Cottage.

Discussing his second goal, he said: “The manager keeps on at me about turning and running with the ball so I thought I would give it a go. The space opened up, I managed to get through and put it in the corner so it was pleasing.

"Regardless of the goals, winning and playing well were more important. Things went in our favour a little but I thought our performance was excellent.”