CHERRIES hitman Jermain Defoe carved his name in British football history to set a new post-war league record by scoring in his tenth consecutive game at the Abbey Stadium last night.

The 18-year-old wonderkid broke the previous best which was jointly held by Liverpool's John Aldridge and Kevin Russell from Wrexham.

Defoe gave the assembled national press just what they were looking for when he netted a superb 64th minute opener for Sean O'Driscoll's side in the 2-0 win over Cambridge United.

But the teenager was protected from the media after the game and was shepherded out of the ground by Cherries physio John Cooper.

O'Driscoll was keen to protect the prodigy from the hype but Defoe was allowed to give an exclusive interview to the Daily Echo.

Defoe said: "I am absolutely thrilled to bits. I didn't think it was going to happen after I missed a good chance to score in the first half.

"Normally I would have been very relaxed but I was so anxious about the record and I thought it was not going to come.

"But I was delighted when it did - I saw big Fletch flick the ball to Carl Fletcher and I knew he was going to knock it over the top to me.

"Thankfully I got on the end of it and I was going to chip the goalkeeper but because he was so close to me I took it round him and hit it as firmly as I could.

"After I had scored I was going to run over to our fans to celebrate but I was so knackered I didn't.

"I was trying not to think about the record and it hasn't been at the back of my mind. I just want to go to Millwall on Saturday, play well, win and hope I score again.

"I will probably celebrate on the coach with some fish and chips and I will relax on the way home."

Defoe was watched by his mother Sandra, father Andre, sister Chonte and girlfriend Leanne together with a host of representatives from West Ham, including assistant manager Frank Lampard.

Hammers boss Harry Redknapp watched the game from the Sky Sports studio in London.