But Jim Vince's side showed enough against Blue Square North outfit Tamworth at the Lamb ground to suggest fans can be optimistic for the future.
In the end, goals in each half from Nick Wright and Lee Hildreth proved to be the difference between the sides in terms of the result.
And the home team looked a more cohesive unit, but it was only the sixth time Halifax's squad had actually been together since they first trained a little under three weeks ago.
At the back, keeper Craig Mawson and central defenders Tony Barass and Steve Payne showed they will be a formidable trio.
Ross Clegg was a real presence in the centre of midfield and there were encouraging cameos from the likes of second half sub Adam Morning, striker Ben Jones and trialist Colin Hunter.
And the whole squad was cheered to the rafters after the game by a large following of away fans who made the journey to the West Midlands to be part of the new club's first outing.
The honour of first shot for the club went to Matt Woolley whose effort in the opening minute after a flowing move involving Jones, Tony Lennon and Ross, was deflected wide.
And Ross almost rolled back the years to his previous spell at Halifax with a free kick that curled narrowly wide soon after.
Hildreth missed the target at the other end and an Alex Rodman dive inside the Halifax area earned him a quiet word from Euro 2008 referee Howard Webb, who will be the best official we see all season.
Former Town skipper Martin Foster almost broke the deadlock for the Lambs after 14 minutes when he took a return pass from Bradley Pritchard, only to be denied by Mawson.
And they went ahead three minutes later when Nick Wright jinked his way into the area and rolled the ball beyond Mawson's grasp. Payne tried to clear, but the ball ended up in the back of the Town net.
Mawson claimed well from Wright soon after and Gareth Sheldon struck a shot against the outside of the Halifax post as Tamworth looked for a second.
But despite enjoying the bulk of possession, the home side were unable to really hurt Halifax as Mawson saved well from Sheldon and Alex Rodman.
There were also signs of life at the other end -Hunter nutmegging Callum Burgess brought a roar from the away fans - and Jones almost got on the end of Tony Lennon's right wing cross.
Despite six half time changes, Halifax were able to take the game to Tamworth early in the second period, Morning cutting in from the left and firing in a shot that was tipped over by Will Puddy.
Clegg won back the ball in central midfield and advanced towards the Tamworth area before sending a curling effort just wide of the target and Morning had another go, this time from the right, but dragged the ball off target.
At the other end Hildreth fired straight at Mawson and Rodman was denied a shooting chance by a great sliding tackle from trialist Liam Smith and Mawson saved from Wright.
It was not until 10 minutes from the end that Tamworth made the game safe when Hildreth picked up a wayward pass 30 yards from goal, strode forward and beat Town's sub keeper Craig Ellison with a well struck shot.
Sheldon had one final chance, but his free kick from the edge of the area was always rising.

MATCH FACTS
Tamworth: Puddy, Burgess, Langdon, Smith, Wild, Foster, Wright, Hildreth, Sheldon, Rodman, Pritchard. Subs (all used): Sheridan, Lea, Jones, Woolaston, McAughtrie, Hendrie, Law.

FC Halifax Town: Mawson., Scott, Awang, Payne, Barass, Lennon, Clegg, Woolley, Jones, Ross, Hunter. Subs (all used): Proffitt, Greaves,. Smith, Brown, Morning, Buckley, Ellison.
Referee: Howard Webb (Rotherham)

Attendance: 618