It may only have been a friendly, but the vast majority of a highly-impressive crowd of 1,036 went home with hope in their hearts as Jim Vince's side put on a decent show against the League Two outfit.
The records will show that Bury won the game 1-0 courtesy of an unfortunate own goal by Town skipper Tony Barass.
But those who were there will have seen Halifax attack at every opportunity and, for lengthy spells, perform like the higher ranked side.
Only a fine save in each half from Shakers keeper Cameron Belford prevented the Shaymen from getting the goal their play so clearly deserved.
At the other end, neither Craig Mawson nor his replacement Phil Senior were particularly tested by a strong Bury side.
It is clearly too early to get too carried away, but the signs are that Vince is building a side capable of putting Halifax back on the football map sooner rather than later.
And while the results do not matter at this stage, Town were bitterly disappointed not to have taken at least a draw from the game.
Halifax dominated the opening exchanges and went close to breaking the deadlock as early as the fifth minute when Ross Clegg played the ball through for Adam Morning whose thumping effort cannoned back off the bar.
Trialist Junior Brown, who had a storming game on the left, showed great feet before releasing the equally impressive Ben Jones soon after, but the striker's rising shot was always going over.
Jones and Neil Ross are looking like a decent partnership up front and when the former Harrogate Railway man left Matt Woolley's through ball for Ross, he fired in a shot in the turn that had Belford worried.
Steve Payne defended well from Glynn Hurst as Bury launched a rare attack before Jones almost got in on the end of a Morning cross.
And when Ross left Craig Mawson's long clearance for Jones he fired off target from the right side of the area.
For all their good work, Town found themselves behind after 27 minutes when Ricky Anane managed to get down the right and pull the ball to the near post where Barass slid in to clear but could only divert it past Mawson.
Hurst headed wide soon after and Michael jones had an effort that deflected onto the Halifax post as Bury showed signs of life.
But Halifax finished the half strongly and were only denied by some Belford acrobatics as he managed to save from Ross who headed Morning's free kick from the right down and towards goal.
Despite a stream of changes after the break from both sides, Town continued to impress and they had a real chance three minutes into the second period when Dorryl Proffitt got free on the left.
He picked out Ross, whose shot was blocked, and the same fate befell Tony Lennon when he pounced on the rebound.
Mario Bryan tried his luck from fully 30 yards, nut his shot was beaten down by Belford before he clutched the ball to his chest.
And Clegg's superb pass forward for Proffitt ended in another shot being blocked for a Halifax corner.
Jack Dorney fired over from 15 yards for Bury, Phil Marsh sent an effort straight at Senior in the Town goal and Danny Racchi blazed one over the top as Bury looked for an unlikely second.
Chris King, another trialist, also defended well under pressure from Marsh after Stephen Dawson had made a surging run downfield.
Town kept playing football and were almost rewarded for their efforts with 13 minutes remaining when Joe Brown won the ball and allowed Clegg to surge forward.
The midfielder's well struck shot took a deflection and appeared to be heading for the back of the net until Belford adjusted his position and saved.

Match FactsFC Halifax Town: Mawson (Senior 60), Awang (Bryan 45), King (Hunter75), Payne, Barass (Smith 70), Morning (Lennon 45), Clegg, Woolley (Buckley 60), Jones (Proffitt 45), Ross (Greaves 60), Junior Brown (Joe Brown 73).
Goals: None
Bury: Belford, Haslam (Scott 67), Futcher, Cresswell, Dawson, Hurst (Bishop 55), Bary-Murphy (Buchanan 67), Jones (Dorney 55), Marsh, Anane (Racchi 47), Tierney (Baker 67). Subs (not used): Brown, Thompson.
Goal: Barass og 27
Referee: David Richardson (Millbank)
Attendance: 1,036