But when the news came through that Altrincham had only drawn at Weymouth, the survival party started at the Shay.
Town only needed a point from their final home game of the season to secure their place in the Blue Square Premier for another season.
But defeat to Stevenage Borough left them hoping for the best on the south coast.
Players sat in the changing rooms in silence, fans milled about on the pitch, all of them waiting for to discover the Shaymen's fate.
Then a roar went up from a pocket of fans on the South Stand and the news rippled around the stadium.
Town were safe and the handicap of the club's 10-point deduction had been overcome.
But surely no one wants to go through anything like that again.
It could so easily have been avoided with a little more composure in front of the Stevenage goal.
But that is so easy to say with players performing under intense pressure knowing that the club could be on the verge of slipping to its lowest ebb for almost 90 years.
The tension transferred from the pitch to the terraces and back again, magnifying each time.
But the crowd did everything they could to raise the players and they responded with a battling final quarter as the Boro goal lived a charmed life.
But despite the efforts of everyone within the ground, the Shaymen still needed help from the south coast and they got it long after the final whistle in West Yorkshire.
The early signs had been encouraging as Town took the game to Stevenage.
Simon Ainge had an effort deflected wide of the target after Jon Shaw had flicked on a Matt Doughty free kick, Lewis Killeen got into a good position on the left but could not get enough power in his shot and Danny Forrest had what looked to be a decent penalty shout turned down by the referee.
At the other end, Adam Legzdins came to the edge of the area to clear from the dangerous Gavin Grant, but Town continued to dominate possession and should have broken the deadlock.
Shaw pounced on a loose back pass in the 22nd minute and crossed for Forrest but he was unable to get his shot away and tried to find Killeen before the ball was cleared.
Moments later Forrest flicked on another Doughty free kick which was half cleared to Ainge, but his low driven shot flashed wide.
When the deadlock was finally broken, it was not Town but Stevenage who did it.
Grant made the initial break on the right and found Steve Morison ahead of him. The England non league international raced into the area and somehow poked the ball between Legzdins and his near post.
The goal rocked the Shaymen and five minutes later Legzdins was forced to save from a deflected Morison effort.
Doughty tried his luck from distance from a half cleared Adam Quinn long throw and Boro keeper Clark Masters got to an Anthony Griffith cross just in front of Shaw before Town were dealt a massive blow on the stroke of half time.
Grant, who was always a threat, escaped down the right and unleashed a shot that flew across the Town keeper and nestled in the bottom corner of the net.
The same player fired a right foot shot inches wide at the start of the second half and a defensive mix-up gave John Martin a chance, but Jake Wright slid in to block.
The Shaymen then settled down but they were unable to find their way though a resolute - and packed - Boro defence.
They finally got a break in the 67th minute when the ball bounced up onto striker Morison's arm and Town were awarded a penalty.
Shaw kept his cool to fire home his 20th league goal of the season although there was a sharp intake of breath from the crowd as the ball went through the diving Masters' legs on its way into the net.
Within a couple of minutes, Morison had struck a post at the other end from Martin's cross and later on Legzdins was forced to save with his legs after the same player had sprung Town's offside trap.
But the Shaymen piled men forward and had enough opportunities to have got the goal that would have secured the point they craved.
Doughty's free kick on the right only needed a touch, but there was none.
Killeen headed and volleyed chances over the bar and the keeper saved well from substitute Andy Campbell's 20-yard half volley.
Shaw fired inches wide of the target with eight minutes remaining after Darryn Stamp had won the ball in a challenge on the keeper and, after Wright had blocked Morison again, Stamp's overhead effort flew over the top.
Campbell was unable to connect with a Stamp knock down as the seconds ticked away and there was one final chance in the second minute of stoppage time when Doughty's corner on the right was cleared to Heslop on the edge of the area. But the keeper got both hands to the midfielder's shot, parrying the ball into the air and catching it on its way down.

MATCH FACTS
Halifax Town: Legzdins, Quinn, Wright, Ainge, Griffith, Kearney (Davies 54), Heslop, Doughty, Forrest (Campbell 46), Shaw, Killeen (Stamp 79). Subs (not used): Mawson, Taylor.
Booked: None
Sent-off: None
Goals: Shaw 64p.

Stevenage Borough: Masters, Wilson, Westwood, Henry, Smith, Grant (Berry 89), McMahon, Martin, Moore (Vincenti 72), O'Sullivan (Laird 84), Morison. Subs (not used): Russell, Willock.
Booked: None
Sent-off: None
Goals: Morison 27, Grant 45.

Attendance: 2,229
Referee: P Quinn

STAR SHAYMAN
Nerves clearly played their part on an evening of high drama at the Shay, but the players did everything they could to overcome them.
At the back, Jake Wright stood out with another assured display, in keeping with the form he has shown since the turn of the year.
On more than one occasion he produced crucial blocks to deny Steve Morison which kept Town's hopes alive.
Matt Doughty also had another impressive game, mainly going forward where his delivery, in open play and from set pieces, caused the Boro defence problems.
One in particular stood out with 19 minutes remaining, but no one was in a position to get a touch as the ball flew across the six-yard box.
It was fitting that Town's final goal of the season went to Jon Shaw, taking his league tally for the campaign to 20.
Where would Town have been without his finishing powers?
Wright takes the final three points on offer in our season-long competition with Doughty getting two and the Star Shayman of the Year Shaw getting one.

PLAYER POINTS
Jon Shaw 46, Simon Heslop 39, Anthony Griffith 32, Jake Wright 28, Tom Kearney 25, Andy Campbell 22, Lewis Killeen 16, Matt Doughty 14, Danny Forrest 13, Steve Torpey 12, Daryl Taylor 11, Steve Bushell 10, Adam Quinn 9, Adam Legzdins 8, Rob Scott 7, Tom Clarke 6, Cortez Belle 5, Craig Mawson 5, Peter Atherton 4, Craig Nelthorpe 4, Simon Ainge 4, Gareth Davies 2, Nathan Joynes 2, Darryn Stamp 2, Ryan Toulson 2, Greg Young 2, Santos Gaia 1.

YOU SAY
You didn't keep us up Wilder - the rubbish below us did. Thank you. Au revoir - skircoat loyal

We're so good we give the rest 10 points start - arise Sir Christopher. Will all the "fans"who have dragged this club down by shouting abuse at players and the manager please go away and "support" someone else - the taxman

Let's hope that's the last we see of Wilder and his negative tactics. Utter rubbish - anon

Wilder couldn't be bothered to attend the awards night. Hopefully he's gone for good - ronnie warren

What price admission for next season? Two and a half pence in the pound (what the creditors are being offered) equals 33p. Exactly what they're worth!! - mr dejected

Thanks Halifax Town for making life as a fan really easy! Second half better than first. Wilder out now - big stu