The scoreline says this was a close-run thing and, technically, it was, as Fax notched two late, late converted tries through Andy Gorski and Sean Penkywicz to give themselves the chance of pulling off a truly miraculous comeback from 30-12 down with three minutes to go.
But the truth is that even if Matt Calland's men had pulled this match out of the fire, they would scarcely have deserved it.

See the slide show from the game.


It wasn't that they lost, that remains an occupational hazard. It was the way they lost.
With the quarter finals of the Northern Rail Cup beckoning, Fax produced an inexplicable performance that was every bit as cold and miserable as the distinctly un-spring like weather.
Celtic confirmed all the impressions they gave during last weekend's muddy National League One encounter in Bridgend: enthusiastic, efficient and direct.
Fax, by contrast, fell down in all the basic facets of the game, especially during a shocking opening half that must rank as their worst since mid-2006.
They could barely complete a set of six; the defence - the subject of so much discussion over the last couple of weeks - was almost laughable; even the left side attack, lethal just a few short weeks ago, fell apart under the pressure.
Whatever has gone wrong over the last few weeks, and something has, needs fixing. Fast.
Ironically, the afternoon had started pretty well, with the home side enjoying the early ascendancy and captain Sean Penkywicz sending prop Paul Southern waltzing through a huge hole to score to the left of the posts.
At least that's what everyone apart from referee Mike Dawber thought.
The Wigan official kicked off a performance best described as 'thought provoking' by ruling Penkywicz's pass forward and, from that moment, it was pretty much all downhill.
Celtic took the lead on 11 minutes when Fax old boy Anthony Blackwood turned what should have been a drop out into a try at the other end of the field, weaving his way out of his own in goal and exchanging passes with fellow flanker Paul Ballard before plunging under the posts.
Mark Lennon added the conversion for a 6-0 lead, although Fax should have levelled five minutes later when Richard Varkulis, recalled at centre, inexplicably went for glory rather than passing to the unmarked Andy Smith after the home side had carved out a rare genuine opening.
Celtic doubled their lead just before quarter time, loose forward Neale Wyatt charging through without a hand being laid on him from Jace Van Dyke's short pass.
Lennon was on target again and, even at just 12-0, Fax already had a job on their hands given the way they were playing.
They had chances to score, Dana Wilson losing the ball close to the line and Shad Royston misplacing it over the whitewash, but in the end it was Celtic who went closest before the break, Ballard being beaten by the bounce after Van Dyke's kick to the corner exposed Fax's defence straight from a scrum.
The visitors should have stretched their advantage within two minutes of the restart too, Blackwood tearing away down the right before firing what can only be described as a terrible pass to the supporting Lennon.
Fax regrouped, but only briefly as a more calamitous defending saw back rower Darren Mapp pounce on Van Dyke's kick.
At 18-0, Fax's response was immediate, with Varkulis forcing an error 40 metres out from the Celtic line, Penkywicz pouncing on the loose ball and Southern sending the supporting Miles Greenwood racing away to score.
Holroyd converted for 18-6, but within seconds Fax slipped further behind once more, Van Dyke somehow beating a posse of defenders to his own close range grubber kick.
Southern lost the ball in the act of scoring as Fax searched for an immediate response and they got their reward with 25 minutes remaining when Mick Govin's kick to the corner was pounced on by Andy Smith within inches - some might say the wrong side - of the dead ball line.
Holroyd's goal closed the gap to 24-12 and, for a fleeting moment, it seemed like Fax had some winning momentum.
Just as in Bridgend a week ago, it proved a hoax, Mapp twisting out of a three man tackle to put the result beyond doubt at 30-12.
Gorski's try with three minutes to go looked little more than consolation, but when Penkywicz scored his side's fourth in injury time, there was still a glimmer of hope.
But despite a frantic finish, there was to be no fairytale ending to a nightmare afternoon.

MATCHFACTS
Halifax: Shad Royston; Lee Patterson, Jon Goddard, Richard Varkulis, Andy Smith; Graham Holroyd, Mick Govin; Paul Southern, Sean Penkywicz, Dana Wilson, David Larder, Paul Smith, Damian Ball. Subs: Miles Greenwood, Andy Gorski, David Wrench, Frank Watene
Tries: A. Smith, Penkywicz, Greenwood, Gorski
Goals: Holroyd (4)

Celtic: Tony Duggan; Paul Ballard, Josh Hannay, Mark Lennon, Anthony Blackwood; Damien Quinn, Jace Van Dyke; Jordan James, Neil Budworth, David Tangata Toa, Mark Dalle Cort, Darren Mapp, Neale Wyatt. Subs: Ian Webster, Aaron Summers, Jamie I'Anson, Gareth Dean
Tries: Blackwood, Wyatt, Mapp (2), Van Dyke
Goals: Lennon (5)
Referee: Mike Dawber (Wigan)
Attendance: 1,763

STARMAN
There wasn't a Halifax player on the field yesterday who, hand on heart, can say they did everything right.
Everyone made mistakes, some more costly than others.
But, as ever, captain Sean Penkywicz did his best to lead by example.
With a pack that seemed more intent on travelling sideways than going forwards, there were never going to be rich pickings for Penkywicz around the rucks.
The little playmaker spent the afternoon feeding off scraps, but - and this is the important bit on an afternoon when passion was noticeable mostly by its absence - he at least looked like he had the stomach for the fight, earning him three points in the season-long Star Man award.
Substitute forward Andy Gorski takes two points after a second half cameo that didn't even start until the 48th minute, when he replaced David Larder.
Part of Fax's problem yesterday was that everyone wanted to pass.
For his part, Gorski got his head down and ran, taking the team forward and setting some kind of an attacking platform.
The final point goes to centre Jon Goddard, who looked like one of the few men in blue and white with the athleticism to compete with a classy Celtic outfit.

PLAYER POINTS
Sean Penkywicz 9, Craig Kopczak 8, Andy Smith 8, Lee Patterson 7, Graham Holroyd 5, Paul Smith 5, Paul Southern 4, Jon Goddard 4, James Haley 3, Mike Ratu 3, Dana Wilson 3, Shad Royston 3, Dave Larder 3, Frank Watene 2, Andy Gorski 2, Mick Govin 2, Janan Billings 1

YOU SAY
Callands honeymoon period is over, sort the defence or go - pete the OAP
Dumb rugby n clueless tactics Calland. Your signings Wilson n M Greenwood are rubbish - Faxfan

well fax everyone was lookin forward to this game and what a disappointment ! Cut out the mistakes and start tackling please ! ackers
Wel all i can say is get down 2 siddal 6pm tuesday with u14s, might learn basic rugby skills! Anon

The team badly needs a scrum half, Lack of organisation is beginning to tell now. Calland Must consider dropping miles greenwond, Another disappointing show - Tim

very poor fax only played for last ten mins said last week you would work on your defence what defence nige
very poor performance other than the last 10 mins only chance for silver wer out of window. grebo

STAT ATTACK
Halifax
First half
Completions: 13
Penalties: 6
Percentage possession: 54
Second half
Completions: 12
Penalties: 3
Percentage possession: 55

Celtic
First half
Completions: 16
Penalties: 4
Percentage possession: 46
Second half
Completions: 11
Penalties: 1
Percentage possession: 45