The Shaymen were as poor on Saturday against a youthful Woodley Sports side than they have been at any stage of an up and down season.
True, the club is current ravaged by injuries, but the personnel available to manager Jim Vince should still be good enough to sustain a challenge at this level.
Sadly, they rarely showed it as the visitors escaped with the points courtesy of a fortuitous Russ Headley strike nine minutes after the break, knocking Halifax down to third in the table.

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There was plenty of huffing and puffing after that, but at no stage did Vince's collection of individuals - team is too strong a term to use - really look confident of getting back.
Town won the first corner of the game inside the opening minute but it was no indication of what was to follow in the first half as the Shaymen struggled to string more than a couple of passes together at any one time.
Woodley threatened early, Mike Clarke being awarded an indirect free kick inside the Halifax area which was touched to Gary Gee whose shot flew over.
And Levi Kennedy then put an effort over after receiving a pass from the impressive Sam Walker.
Town's response was a David Brown cross that went behind for a corner from which Lincoln Adams had a header blocked before Mark Peers scooped a shot over the top.
Michael Barnes did well down the left only to cross too high for Brown in the middle and when Barnes crossed low, the diminutive striker was denied by Woodley keeper Ben Connett.
Luke Hinsley volleyed well wide from the edge of the area after a Peers cross from the left had been cleared.
Walker fired in a left footed free kick that forced Jon Kennedy into his first real save of the afternoon five minutes before the break.
Town defended the resulting corner well and Allen raced clear towards halfway before sending the ball through for Ashley Stott, but he was unable to either shoot or find any of the three Town players who had arrived in support and the chance had gone.
The early stages of the second half belonged almost entirely to Woodley with Lincoln Adams doing well to deny Headley and Hinsley sliding in to prevent the same player from getting a strike on goal moments later.
But Town's worst fears were realised in the 54th minute when Headley got into a foot race on the right with Barras.
The striker got a toe end to the ball from an acute angle and the ball bounced of Kennedy, back onto Headley and dribbled over the line.
Woodley looked like they had doubled their lead two minutes later after the one piece of class shown by either side all afternoon.
Walker swept a diagonal ball from left to right for Levis Kennedy to volley into the danger area and Clarke headed home.
Clarke's celebrations were cut short by the linesman's flag which came to the Shaymen's rescue.
It did not deter Woodley who went close again in the 63rd minute when Mark Haslam unleashed a thunderous 35-yard shot that forced Kennedy into a full length save.
That seemed to spark Town back into life with Paul Evans trying his luck from slightly close in which bobbled into the keeper's arms.
Fellow half time substitute Nigel Jemson had a couple of headers, the first from a Damien Allen cross the second from Mark Peers, that failed to trouble the keeper.
And with 15 minutes remaining, Brown's glancing header from a Hinsley cross, went straight into Connett's arms and Peers's well struck shot was collected by the keeper at the second attempt.
The closest Halifax came to an equaliser was in the 77th minute when an Evans free kick was headed downwards by Adams, forcing Connett to get down smartly to his right to block.
Adams had a late shot deflected wide for a corner and Jemson headed over the top from a Barnes cross as the Shaymen started to show signs of life.
But they had one last chance as the last minute ticked round when, after Jemson and Evans had both had penalty appeals waved away, Barnes crossed for Brown who laid it back to Jemson but he fired wide from 12 yards.

MATCH FACTS
FC Halifax Town: Kennedy, Hinsley (Hotte 76), Adams, Sutton, Barras, Baker (Evans 46), Barnes, Allen, Peers, D Brown, Stott (Jemson 46). Subs (not used): Senior.
Booked: None
Sent-off: None
Goals: None

Woodley Sports: Connett, Sellers, Furnival, Cotton, Jarrett, Kennedy, Haslam, Gee, Clarke, Headley (Browne 80), Walker. Subs (not used): Blacker, Easter, Hughes.
Booked: Kennedy (foul 40),
Sent-off: None
Goals: None

Attendance: 1,101
Referee: M Bell

STAR SHAYMAN
IT was never good to watch, so this game must have been pretty awful to play in.
Michael Barnes again showed why he was brought to the club with a willingness to get on the ball when others were not so keen.
His pace troubled the Woodley defence and he was equally at home on either wing.
Lincoln Adams also showed his versatility again as he played on the right of defence for the majority of the game before switching to attack for the closing stages when Town were desperate to get something from the game.
And he want as close as anyone to scoring for the Shaymen with a downward header that forced Ben Connett in the Woodley goal to save well.
Luke Hinsley had not been included in the original starting line up, but came in when Cavell Coo aggravated his injury in the warm up.
And the youngster did himself a power of good with a solid display before making way for the tactical switch.
His second half tackle to deny Mick Clarke a shooting chance ensured the Shaymen at least had something to play for in the closing minutes.
Barnes takes the three points on offer in our season long competition with Adams two and Hinsley one.

PLAYER POINTS
Junior Brown 32, Tom Baker 30, Ashley Stott 19, Scott Phelan 17, Jonathan Smith 16, Nigel Jemson 11, Paul Gedman 11, Colin Daniel 10, Peter Moore 10, Jon Kennedy 9, Lincoln Adams 8, Cavell Coo 7, Damien Allen 7, Michael Barnes 6, Mark Peers 5, Ritchie Sutton 4, Adam Morning 4, Paul Collins 4, Luke Hinsley 3, Steve Payne 3, Neil Ross 3, Paul Evans 3, Craig Smith 2, Justin Walker 2, Craig Ellison 2, Danny Ellis 1, Phil Senior 1.

YOU SAY- Very poor town - totally devoid of any attacking threat what so ever - their goal was fortunate - but if we perform like that we might as well forget the play offs - annoying. Bri W7

See ya later Jim - HXT.

No pride,no passion. We are a team of individuals. No leadership. Its all down to you Vince! Lost to a pub team. Totally unacceptable! JRA

The players r up 4 it, but vince has lost the changing room, this club is 2 big 4 him,time to go. SMIFFY, HEBDEN

Mr Vince you are out of your depth.please go now before it's too late. - SHAYMAN

HxTFC or FCHT get rid of the squatters.Time to go Vince - MARY. J and ANNA.

I'd like to challenge jim vince to tell us why tom baker was taken off. Players that stand up to dictator jim will be banished - Town fan

You haven't a clue Vince. time to go - Skircoat Loyal.

Luke hinsley was exellent best man out of a sorry bunch diabolical and flipping embarrasing - Footie fan

That was rubbish vince no pride no passion we need a striker now or say goodbye to the play offs - Frontman

much better performance from the ever improving shaymen - the taxman

fans should get their money back after that show no forwards and no team effort will think twice before going in future - angry town fans

A new striker is a must but as we havent signed one i take it witton and droylesden dont have one available! mystified malcolm

nothing ! nuff said yor a bum pub side at the very least disgusting and a joke ! south stander
Utter garbage vince, team selection daft, tactics daft and signing another defender when we need a striker is even dafter! angry andy

long ball, after long ball, after long ball, did you think anything else. Poor performance from start to finish. The Turnbull