But as a confidence building exercise this was a disaster.

Jim Vince's side looked disorganised at the back, gradually lost their way in midfield and were lightweight in attack.

In short, they were a long way from where the manager had hoped they would be going into the Festive period.

Retford are favourites to win Unibond One South and on this evidence that section is either stronger than the North or Town are some way short of matching the visitors' predicted finish.

There was little to suggest they would finish so well beaten as they opened brightly with Cavell Coo forcing the first corner of the game inside the opening 30 seconds.

But, as they did for all of the first half, they failed to make the most of the set piece and Retford survived.

Tom Baker's 30-yarder on the rain-drenched surface had United keeper Ross Turner scrambling down to his right to save.

And when the busy Baker released Damien Allen down the left there was a real threat, but the cross eluded Lincoln Adams before reaching Danny Meadowcroft whose goal bound shot was blocked.

Town continued to look the more likely to score with Baker firing wide from a free kick and Paul Gedman cutting out a Michael Simpkins crossfield pass and releasing Danny Ellis only for him to pass too far in front of Allen.

Retford gradually got into the tie with Matthew Fisher testing Jon Kennedy from distance and Michael Godber having an effort deflected behind for a corner.

But Town almost broke the deadlock on the break, Gedman getting clear down the left and drilling a cross in for Ellis who was inches away from connecting.

The visitors got their noses in front nine minutes before the break after David White had crossed deep from the left. Christopher Bettney retrieved the ball on the right, raced into the area and drilled a shot beyond Kennedy.

The Town keeper kept his side in the game a couple of minutes later with a fingertip save to deny Paul Grimes after the ball had been helped on by Neil Harvey.

Town had one final chance to level before the break after a foul on Coo, but Baker's free kick curled straight into Turner's arms.
Just as they had at the start of the game, Town looked bright at the beginning of the second period with Allen feeding substitute Ashley Stott whose shot was saved by the keeper
Sadly, that was the highlight of the opening half hour after the break as Retford took a firm grip on proceedings.
Ryan Ford nipped in and fired narrowly wide from 20 yards after the Shaymen had failed to clear and Collins did well to clear a Bettney free kick soon after.
Retford's pressure paid dividends just past the hour after Kennedy had done well to save from Adam Oldham.
The keeper punched the resulting corner to the edge of the area and Liam Nelthorpe drove the ball back through a crowd of players and into the net.
The visitors might have had a third 10 minutes later but for a great double save, first from Harvey, then from Nelthorpe, with Coo completing the clearance after the second.
Two down and out of the tie, Town started to exert a little more pressure although more often than not they lost possession when they were about to get to the business end of the pitch.
Stott saw a decent effort from the edge of the area flash wide and, after good work from Stott, Gedman and Danny Meadowcroft, Collins saw a shot blocked by a defender.
That was pretty much it, although Stott fired over from a free kick and sent a low shot wide of the target in the dying seconds after a break.

STAR SHAYMAN
He might have conceded two goals, but Jon Kennedy prevented a further three with some good saves.
It was a bad night all round for the Shaymen following on from the disappointment of the defeat to Rossendale at the weekend.
But at least Kennedy could hold his head high as he left the ground knowing he had done his bit.
Tom Baker only lasted 45 minutes on his return from illness but was the best player on the field in the first half.
He got about the Retford midfield and rarely wasted a pass before fatigue set in and he was forced to retire from the game.
Danny Ellis caused Retford a few problems with his pace, either up front with Paul Gedman in the opening 45 minutes or out wide after the break.
But his pace alone was never going to be enough to get the Shaymen into a game they rarely looked like getting anything from.
Kennedy takes the three points on offer in our season-long competition with Baker taking two and Ellis one.

MATCH FACTS
FC Halifax Town: Kennedy, Coo, Collins, Sutton, Meadowcroft, Adams, Phelan, Allen, Baker (Stott 46), Ellis Gedman (Smith 78). Subs (not used): Hinsley, Brown, King.
Booked: Coo (foul 36)
Sent-off: None
Goals: None

Retford United: Turner, Oldham (Ludlam 75), White, Ford, Chambers, Simpkins, Bettney, Fisher (Nelthorpe 55), Godber (Whittington 70), Harvey, Grimes. Subs (not used): Owens, Keeling.
Booked: Simpkins (handball 23), Godber (unsporting behaviour 45), White (dissent 54)
Sent-off: None
Goal: Bettney 36, Nelthorpe 61

Attendance: 295
Referee: M Griffiths

PLAYER POINTS
Junior Brown 25, Jonathan Smith 16, Scott Phelan 16, Tom Baker 14, Paul Gedman 11, Colin Daniel 10, Peter Moore 10, Ashley Stott 9, Jon Kennedy 9, Cavell Coo 5, Damien Allen 4, Adam Morning 4, Lincoln Adams 4, Steve Payne 3, Nigel Jemson 2, Craig Smith 2, Justin Walker 2, Luke Hinsley 2, Paul Collins 2, Danny Ellis 1, Phil Senior 1.