TEN minutes of madness ensured that Harriers returned from Essex without a point.

The Aggborough side had battled back into the game but sloppy defending allowed Grays to take a 3-1 lead.

Despite a late strike by Matthew Barnes-Homer, Harr-iers could not stop their four-game unbeaten run coming to an end.

Manager Mark Yates selected the team that had earned 12 points from the four previous games.

In contrast, Grays’ chairman and manager Mick Woodward made five changes and selected a defensive 4-5-1 formation to stifle the in-form visiting side.

The extra man in midfield handed the hosts the advantage and Harriers struggled to get hold of the ball.

Keeper Adam Bartlett made sure Harriers were still on level terms with a fine reaction save in the 15th minute from Danny Kedwell.

The visitors started the second-half strongly but they went 1-0 down against the run of play in the 53rd minute.

Harriers failed to clear a cross and Stuart Thurgood rifled in a low 20-yard shot.

Justin Richards levelled the scores in the 59th minute with a fine turn and shot, but the visitors were trailing again nine minutes later.

Sloma slalomed into the area, jinking past several tackles and fired into the roof of the net.

Harriers were stunned in the 72nd minute when substitute Barry Colgan took advantage of space in the area to score.

The visitors penned Grays back and Barnes-Homer grabbed an 89th-minute lifeline but it was too little too late.

Harriers: Bartlett, Lowe, Creighton, Jones, Baker (Bennett 81), Brittain (Knights 72), Ferrell, Penn, Smikle, Barnes-Homer, Richards. Subs not used: Coleman, McGrath, McDermott.

Attendance: 525.