The home side failed to recover from the setback of conceding a third minute penalty as the Grecians adapted far better to the atrocious conditions.

See the slide show from the game.

The visitors managed to create several good chances despite the fact that the ball regularly got stuck in the puddles on the surface.
And, apart from a brief spell around the half hour mark and another after they were already three down, the Shaymen were completely outplayed.
The game, only given the go ahead after three inspections, could hard have started any worse for Halifax who fell behind after three minutes.
Jamie Mackie, whose pace caused Town's defence problems all afternoon, raced onto a long ball down the middle and into the area.
Adam Legzdins slid in to meet the striker and was judged to have brought him down for a penalty and Richard Logan made no mistake from the spot.
Mackie continued to create havoc up front for the visitors, flashing a shot across the face of goal three minutes later and forcing a last-ditch tackle from Cortez Belle soon after.
Logan also spurned the chance to bag a second when he fired over after good work down the left from Dean Moxey.
Town finally threatened the Exeter goal with a Darryn Stamp header from a Steve Torpey cross that looped over the top.
And when Torpey and Stamp combined to good effect, Lewis Killeen saw his well struck shot blocked by Matt Taylor.
Taylor also blocked from Stamp, who was denied moments later by keeper Paul Jones after he had latched on to a Jon Shaw flick.
That was it for Town's first half pressure and it was Exeter who threatened to add to their lead on a number of occasions.
Wayne Carlisle spooned an effort over the top after being picked out by Mackie and Logan was denied by a Legzdins save before Moxey fired a shot across the face of goal and wide.
Having reached the break just one down, Town would have wanted to keep it tight at the start of the second half and try to work their way back into the game.
But they were dealt a hammer blow within two minutes of the restart when Mackie raced clear down the right again before passing the ball towards the far post where former Shay player Lee Elam - a half time sub - slid in to force the ball home.
Jones did well to get a touch on a Doughty cross with Stamp lurking behind him, but Town chances were few and far between.
At the other end Carlisle shovelled an effort over the top, Legzdins saved from Matt Gill and Adam Stansfield almost capitalised on a Belle slip, but the defender recovered to force the ball out for a corner.
Mackie thought he had sealed the points in the 71st minute when he raced clear and beat Legzdins, only to see the ball come back off a post.
But within 60 seconds he got the goal he deserved when he again got the better of the Town defence and lashed a shot beyond the despairing dive of the keeper.With the points beyond them, Town finally sprang to life in the final 15 minutes of the game, creating a number of decent chances.
Shaw turned and fired goalwards from a Heslop free kick only to see the ball flash narrowly wide of the target.
And a minute later Anthony Griffith won the ball in the middle and laid it off for Heslop whose well struck shot was saved by Jones.
Heslop fired over from a Doughty corner soon after and Belle almost caught out Jones from 40 yards with a shot that bounced onto the top of the crossbar.
There was one final chance for a Halifax consolation when Heslop fed substitute Nicky Gray but his effort from the edge of the area was the wrong side of the post.

STAR SHAYMAN
Few Town players distinguished themselves at the Shay on Saturday.
One who did was loan midfielder Simon Heslop who was still running as hard in the last minute as he had in the first, despite the fact that it was not an afternoon for midfielders who were largely by-passed as the ball was played from back to front quickly.
He really came to the fore late in the game with a couple of decent shots in addition to setting up a chance for Nicky Gray.
But Exeter had done their homework on him and for the most part he was restricted.
Jon Shaw also worked tirelessly in attack without reward.
His first half flick got strike partner Darryn Stamp in while he flashed an effort after the break narrowly wide of the target.
Stamp was always in the thick of any attacking play Town could muster and on another day he would have bagged a first half goal - being denied by a fine block by Matt Taylor and a Paul Jones save.
Heslop takes the three points on offer in our season-long competition with Shaw getting two and Stamp one.

MATCH FACTS
Halifax Town: Legzdins, Toulson, Belle, Young (Wright 84), Doughty, Killeen (Taylor 73), Heslop, Griffith, Torpey (Gray 57), Stamp, Shaw. Subs (not used): Scott, Bushell.
Booked: Belle.
Sent-off: None
Goals: None

Exeter City: Jones, Tully, Matt Taylor, Seaborne, Edwards (Elam 46), Carlisle, Andrew Taylor, Gill, Moxey (Richardson 88), Mackie, Logan (Stansfield 63). Subs (not used): Marriott, Basham.
Booked: Moxey.
Sent-off: None
Goals: Logan 3pen, Elam 48, Mackie 74.

Attendance: 1,160
Referee: Paul Tierney (Wigan).

PLAYER POINTS
Jon Shaw 22, Tom Kearney 16, Andy Campbell 13, Simon Heslop 12, Lewis Killeen 12, Steve Bushell 10, Steve Torpey 9, Anthony Griffith 8, Daryl Taylor 8, Cortez Belle 5, Danny Forrest 5, Matt Doughty 3, Craig Mawson 3, Jake Wright 3, Adam Quinn 2, Darryn Stamp 2, Ryan Toulson 2, Greg Young 2, Adam Legzdins 1, Rob Scott 1.

YOUR SAY
A shambles. The players went through the motions. When did we become a kick and rush team? - Jack Jones

Unlucky again. The conditions didn't suit our passing style and we never recovered from a penalty that shouldn't have been given - Loyal Shayman

I can't wait to hear who or what Wilder is blaming this week. Resign now! - Steve Mills

Appalling conditions. Appalling defence. Could have been 5 or 6 - Wilky
Simon Heslop aside, the rest hang your heads in shame.That was simply woeful.All you pro Wilder fans I ask why? He's taking the club backwards - JRA.

I have seen sunday league games better than that display Town. Shaw was good, Heslop was brilliant again - The Turnbull

Got what we deserved after a lacklustre display against a decent Exeter side - Chadders

We were awful - Wilder