In truth, neither had some of the Town players who were unable to live up to their pre-match billing as favourites on a massively disappointing afternoon at the Shay.

A big Shay crowd of 1,549 was happy enough at the end of a largely uneventful first half.

But they were stunned into silence when Mike Mason bagged the opening goal of the new season within 20 seconds of the re-start.

The Halifax players were equally shocked and after Danny Mahoney bagged the first of his double to make it 2-0 six minutes later it was game over.

Halifax created little in the way of clear cut chances and, more disappointingly, were off the pace in the battle to win midfield.

Town created the better openings in the first half without forcing Bamber Bridge keeper Andy Banks to make a meaningful save.

Junior Brown's effort was easily dealt with by the keeper while Neil Ross thumped a free kick into the wall with his right foot before sending the rebound over the bar with his left.

The first real chance came just before the midway point when Jonathan Smith delivered well with his right foot for Ross at the far post and he tried to place his header, only to miss the target by a matter of inches.

Ross also saw a volley, after good work from the industrious Ashley Stott and Smith, flash across the face of goal and wide.

Bridge had been restricted to three long range efforts from Alex Porter and a Ryan-Zico Black cross which was well dealt with by Tom Harban.

But the visitors exploded into life at the start of the second half with just 16 seconds on the clock when they broke the deadlock.

Neil Zarac managed to get free on the right and sent over a deep cross which Mike Mason headed into the roof of the Halifax goal.

Smith, Ross and Ross Clegg combined well as Halifax looked for an immediate response, but Brown's shot was saved by Banks.

And the Shaymen's woes doubled in the 52nd minute when Bridge bagged a second goal.

Adam Tonks' long throw from the left was cleared but only as far as Mahoney who had time to line up his shot and, with the help of a slight deflection, beat Craig Mawson.

Lincoln Adams, who along with Steve Payne looked solid at the back, almost sparked Town into life with a header from Justin Walker's free kick, but his header flashed wide.

And another Walker free kick bounced awkwardly in front of the Bridge keeper who did well to keep the ball out.

Clegg had a couple of efforts, the first sliced wide after good work by Walker and Stott, and he fired the second, when Adam knocked down a Dorryl Proffitt corner down, over the top.
Any slim hopes Halifax had of launching a comeback ended with 20 minutes remaining when Porter did well on the right to find Mahoney and he waited for Mawson to commit himself before chipping the keeper to make it 3-0.
Town kept plugging away and almost grabbed a consolation with 10 minutes remaining after Proffitt had taken a return pass from Stott and sent over a cross from the right.
Substitute Ben Jones met the ball perfectly with his head only to see Jones fling himself to his left and save.
Bamber Bridge almost netted a fourth goal with four minutes remaining but Mason's driven shot from the left flashed across the face of goal and wide.

STAR SHAYMAN
It was not a day many of FC Halifax Town's hastily-assembled squad will want to remember.
On paper, the squad looks capable of challenging for honours.
But on Saturday it looked anything but that as the players struggled to come to terms with their new surroundings.
Strangely for a three-goal defeat, the two central defenders could not be faulted and Steve Payne tried his best as stand-in skipper to inspire his teammates.
The former Huddersfieled man never flinched a tackle and always looked assured in possession.
Lincoln Adams also competed well on a difficult afternoon when Town were conceding possession far too easily in in front of the back four.
Ashley Stott proved a willing runner all afternoon without ever having the kind of service he would have liked.
Payne takes the three points on offer in our season-long competition with Adams getting two and Stott one.

MATCH FACTS
FC Halifax Town: Mawson, Harban, King, Payne, Adams, Clegg, Walker, Smith (Moore 56), Clegg, Brown (Proffitt 56), Stott, Ross (Jones 67). Subs (not used): Hinsley, Senior.
Booked: Ross (foul; 23)
Sent-off: None
Goals: None

Bamber Bridge: Banks, Nay, Fleming, Steel, Tong, Spencer (McCann 90), Black (Edmead 66), Mahoney, Zarac (O'Neill 72), Porter, Mason. Sub (not used): Peterson.
Booked: Black (foul 43), Spencer (unsporting behaviour 76).
Sent-off: None
Goals: Mahoney 52, 70, Mason 46

Attendance: 1,549
Referee: Darren England.

PLAYER POINTS
Payne 3, Adams 2, Stott 1.

YOU SAY
A huge difference in quality compared to the Conference. Too early to judge the team but I think a lot of today's crowd will think twice about coming to the next game- Sneakers

Encouraging start -better than the rubbish we had to endure under Wilder - the taxman

No passion, no pride, just thought we had to turn up to win this league. Exciting football? What a joke - treacle toffee man