His 65th-minute introduction proved to be a master-stroke by Terry Brown, as the former Premier League hit-man gunned down the Harriers with three goals in ten minutes, as the Shots secured their first win in six games.
Following a midweek crisis meeting after a lack-lustre display against local rivals Woking, it was apparent that the air was very much clear in the opening exchanges, as Aldershot ran riot.
With two changes to the Shots team and the new look 4-5-1 formation, Brown's men could have opened the scoring from the kick-off. Andy Edwards' long pass to John Grant was flicked into the path of David Lee and the former Tottenham trainee cut the ball back to Louis Soares from the right byline. Soares' seven-yard shot was blocked and Ben Harding fired the rebound wide.
Harding had a chance to atone his miss in the fourth minute. Ryan Williams worked a short corner with Darren Barnard and the former Wales international hit a dangerous cross to the back post, Harding rose highest but his powerful header was inches over the bar.
Backed by the raucous Recreation Ground faithful, Aldershot broke the deadlock in the seventh minute. Reminiscent of their early season form the Shots produced a beautifully worked move from inside their own half.
Possession went through Edwards, Barnard, Lee and Williams, the former Bristol Rovers winger then released John Grant inside the box. The Shots top scorer cut onto his right foot from 10 yards and buried his shot inside the near post leaving Scott Bevan no chance.
Typically for a side lacking confidence, Aldershot sat back and allowed Kidderminster to respond. The Shots' five-man midfield was able to absorb much of the Harriers' early pressure, but having drawn with Oxford in midweek Kidderminster grew in confidence.
In the 18th minute Iyseden Christie laid off Simon Russell on the edge of the area, he took a touch and fired into the right corner. Nikki Bull reacted brilliantly to push the strike around the post.
Eight minutes later Craig Nelthorpe should had scored what would have been a deserved equaliser for Kidderminster. Reuben Reid cut into the box from the right-hand side and fed Nelthorpe who was unmarked 10 yards from goal.
But he woefully blazed over to give Aldershot a lucky let-off. The Harriers continued to push for a goal, and caught the hosts napping in the 41st minute. Neltorpe delivered a 40-yard free-kick from the left touchline, Christie rose unopposed on the edge of the area to head past Bull, and the usually assured goalie was simply caught in no-man's land.
With a minute left in the half Christie doubled his tally with a spectacular strike. The loanee from Rochdale picked the ball up 35 yards from goal. He beat two weak challenges from Shots players, cut onto his left foot and from 25 yards launched a pile driver into the top corner to send the Kidderminster fans into delirium, while Bull was left bemoaning his porous defence.
For the first 20 minutes of the second half, the Shots huffed and puffed but lacked any real guile until the introduction of Gayle in the 65th minute. Within seconds he dragged Aldershot back into the game.
Joel Grant drove through the middle, and released the overlapping Lee into the box. He crossed to the back post to Gayle who buried his header into the top right-hand corner.
In the 73rd minute he fired the Shots into the lead. Making his home debut Curtis Osano stole down the right and crossed to Lee. The former Oldham Athletic player fired across goal and Gayle was on hand to shoot home from ten yards.
The former Wimbledon striker completed his hat-trick in the 78th minute. Barnard crossed from deep on the left to the back post. The unmarked Jamaica international needed no invitation to bury the ball past Bevan with a powerful header to complete a ten-minute hat-trick and give Aldershot all three points.