A TEN-minute from Marcus Gayle and some shocking defending from Harriers handed Aldershot a 4-2 win at The Rec this afternoon - this after Mark Yates' men had come from behind to lead 2-1.

It was an afternoon that summed up Harriers' season - infuriatingly inconsistent. The boys showed true grit to reverse a 1-0 deficit given to Aldershot by John Grant into a 2-1 advantage thanks to an Iyseden Christie brace (the first time this season Harriers have come from behind in such fashion) but managed to ruin all of that good work with just over nine minutes of kamikaze defending as substitute Marcus Gayle grabbed himself a lightening-quick hat-trick, probably the easiest he'll ever score.

Indeed - Grant grabbed the first goal of the day with just eight minutes gone - though not before Ben Harding and Louis Soares both had chances.

Grant's goal was nothing more than a gift - he somehow managed to fire home the ball from inside the area despite the best efforts of four Harriers players, as well as goalkeeper Scott Bevan who was beaten at his near post.

It was an awful start for Harriers but heads didn't drop, and from then on there was only one side in it up until the break, Reuben Reid was at the hart of a lot of the good things to come from the away side, including the build-up play that lead to Simon Russell's shot that hit the side netting, and Russell Penn's drive that went just wide.

Youngster Craig Nelthorpe went close with a lovely drive from inside the area just before the half hour mark but Harriers waited until just the interval to make their mark - Christie got his first on 42 minutes after nodding home Nelthorpe's cross, his second came in first half injury time as he was left free to run at the defence and curl home a real beauty from 25 yards.

After the break, though, it was just all too lethargic from Harriers who seemed shocked at the velocity with which Aldershot were always going to attack the second period. Substitute Gayle grabbed the first of his three on 67 minutes as he was left almost unmarked at the back-post, most of the Harriers defence busy trying to block the assisting cross from David Lee.

Four minutes later Aldershot snatched the lead as the ball was left far too lose inside the area, veteran Gayle didn't need to be asked twice before he swept home past Scott Bevan.

Bevan, who had been given very little to do beforehand, could be considered at fault for the third goal as he came some way off his line to try and clear Darren Barnard's cross, Gayle pounced on the apparent hesitancy and gaping space to head home the hosts fourth on 77 minutes.

To their credit Harriers continued to press forward in search of goals but that seemed scant consolation given the way the goals were conceded - veteran Gayle obviously boasts some real quality but few who saw the game will disagree that it was more of a match that Harriers lost rather than one Aldershot won.

Aldershot: Bull, Oseno, Winfield, Edwards, Barnard, Soares (Joel Grant 47), Newman, Lee, Williams (Gayle 62), Harding (Smith 53), John Grant.
Subs Not Used: Wells, Ridgeway.  

Harriers: Bevan, Hurren, Creighton, Whitehead, Sedgemore, Blackwood, Russell (White 82), Reid (Reynolds 86), Nelthorpe (McGrath 78), Penn, Christie.
Subs Not Used: Steve Taylor, Smikle.

Attendance: 2,182. (approx 100 away) 

Referee: J Linington (Mancs)