LEAKY Harriers were given a lesson in finishing by high-flying Torquay United at Aggborough in a thrilling Blue Square Premier Division clash.

Harriers paid for the price for more poor defending as Torquay left Worcestershire with all three points.

Striker James Constable bagged a brace in a fine individual performance but he was let down by his team-mates, who were too easily sliced open by a Torquay side ravaged by injury and suspensions.

Goalkeeper Chris MacKenzie, who joined Harriers on a month's loan from Shrewsbury on Friday, was given a torrid time and had a game to forget on his debut.

Kevin Nicholson signalled the Gulls threat when he flashed an accurate free-kick across the box in the third minute.

But in-form hitman Constable was terrorising Torquay's defence and when he latched onto Jeff Kenna's excellent pass, the former Walsall man cut in from the right and tested keeper Simon Rayner with a powerful shot.

But the home side slipped behind to a spectacular 13th minute goal by Torquay right-back Paul Hinshelw-ood, who beat MacKenzie from 50-yards out, after he spotted the keeper off his line.

The stunned home side tried to roar back and the confident Constable chested down a goal-kick and let fly with a shot that fizzed past the post.

The striker was also booked in the 32nd minute for elbowing Mark Ellis while challenging in the air.

MacKenzie did not help his new side four minutes later when Torquay went 2-0 ahead.

The on-loan stopper punched a corner behind and then completeley missed Nicholson's set piece, allowing Tim Sills to head the ball into the back of the net.

The hosts kept searching for a goal, with Andy Ferrell seeing a shot blocked, while Constable watched a fine effort saved by Rayner.

But the Gulls swooped to make it 3-0 in the 40th minute when Chris Zebr-oski latched onto a goal-kick, sped into a massive hole in Harriers' def-ence and slotted the ball in from the right after rounding the keeper.

But worse was to come for the home side when Zebroski was given too much space to head in Nicholson's free-kick to make it 4-0 on the hour mark.

To his credit Constable did not give up and he headed in his side's opener in the 67th minute from Michael Black-wood's cross.

Justin Richards thought he had scored when he slotted Constable's cross towards goal but the shot was cleared off the line in the 74th minute.

A minute later the visitors made it 5-1 when Lee Phillips raced down the right wing and beat Harriers' keeper with a low shot.

Constable pulled a goal back in the 78th minute when he outpaced Torq-uay's defence, but his ninth goal of the season will be little consolation to manager Mark Yates after a heavy defeat.

Harriers: C MacKenzie 5, J Kenna 5, J Harkness 5, M Creighton 5, S Whitehead 6, J Constable 8, J Richards 6, R Penn 5, M Blackwood 5, A Ferrell (Russell 56, 6) 5, D Bennett 5.

Torquay: S Rayner, P Hinshelwood, K Nicholson, C Todd, T Sills (Wring 76), T Bedeau, M Hockley, C Zebroski, I Miller (Phillips 72), S Laird, M Ellis (Hill 77).

Referee: C D Sarginson (Staffs).

Attendance: 2027.