TOWN hit back twice to claim a share of the spoils but it was never going to be enough to extend their Unibond One North play off push into the final week of the campaign.
Halifax had to win their final home game - and hope results elsewhere went their way - to ensure Saturday's trip to Chorley had something riding on it.
But in the end they fell short in a game in which they gifted the visitors a couple of goals and enjoyed two slices of good fortune to get theirs.
Click here to see the Unibond Division One North table on our Halifax Town fixtures and results pageThis was also a game that descended into farce after 17 minutes when there was a 15-minute delay after referee Tyas picked up an injury.
He was replaced by one of his assistants and, with no fourth official at this level, spectator Jonathan Hyland ran the line after responding to an appeal over the public address system.
There have been many strange moments in Town's first season in the division but few to match that.
Before the referee suffered his injury, the Shaymen had dominated, creating a handful of decent opportunities.
Nathan Joynes was unable to get on the end of good work from Cavell Coo and Michael Barnes after two minutes and glanced a header wide from a Junior Brown cross moments later.
Joynes then flicked the ball on for Barnes who was denied by the legs of Trafford keeper Tom read.
Joynes headed a Paul Evans corner wide then failed to reach another Brown cross in the 17th minute before the game was halted.
The Shaymen continued to dominate on the restart with Lincoln Adams heading straight at the keeper from a Coo cross.
But they were never able to create quite as many chances and, with a minute of the half remaining, the went behind from Trafford's first threatening moment of the game.
Ritchie Sutton was penalised for a rash challenge on the Town right, Simon Woodford whipped in the free kick and Andy Lundy had the simplest of tasks to head home from six yards.
Town hit back three minutes into the second half in fortunate circumstances.
There was a real scramble in the Trafford area, with a Junior Brown shot blocked by a defender who then cleared against his own keeper.
The ball rebounded to Tom Baker whose shot thudded into another defender, possibly on the upper arm, and the stand in referee pointed to the spot.
The Shay crowd can also take some credit for the award as their appeal seemed to sway the referee.
Nigel Jemson clearly didn't care whether or not it deserved to be a spot kick as he smashed the ball home to level the scores.
Town went onto the front foot again with Baker forcing the Trafford keeper to punch clear from a free kick and Damien Allen fed a neat ball through for Barnes, whose shot on the turn flew over the bar.
Paul Evans headed over from a Junior Brown cross and Read clawed away Baker's audacious attempt to sneak in a free kick from an acute angle.
Trafford responded and they were gifted the chance to regain the lead in the 65th minute when Junior Brown surrendered possession to Scott Barlow on the left and he cut into the area before beating Phil Senior at his near post.
Once again Town were not behind for long - two minutes on this occasion - as Baker broke down the right into the area and squared for Barnes to slide the ball home from close range, although he may just have strayed offside before the pass.
The Shaymen had a couple more chances to end the season with a home win but were unable to take either.
Barnes was denied by the keeper after he picked up a bullet of a cross field pass from Evans and raced into the area.
And, with nine minutes remaining, Baker snapped in a shot from the edge of the area, only to see Read dive full length to his left to turn the ball round the post.
Star ShaymanTom Baker has been one of the shining lights in an ultimately disappointing season.
And he was on good form again against Trafford despite struggling with a back problem.
His break and pass enabled Michael Barnes to fire home the second equaliser and he almost bagged a goal himself on a couple of occasions, one from a free kick and one from open play, both of which were saved by the keeper.
Like Baker, Damien Allen is limping towards the close season nursing an injury.
But he was also impressive in the final home game of the campaign, adding an extra string to his bow by switching to the right side of defence late on in the game.
Allen will be suspended for the final game of the season - at Chorley next Saturday - as will Paul Evans, and both will be missed.
Evans supplied ammunition for the strikers on several occasions on Saturday but they were not able to make anything of it.
Baker takes the three points on offer in our season long competition with Allen getting two and Evans one.
Match FactsFC Halifax Town: Senior, Coo (D Brown 72), Adams, Jemson, Sutton, J Brown, Evans, Baker, Allen, Barnes (Peers 87), Joynes (Gedman 46). Subs (not used): Kennedy, Hinsley.
Booked: Sutton (foul 44)
Sent-off: None
Goals: Jemson 49pen, Barnes 67
Trafford: Read, Whitehead, Taylor, Woodford, MacLean, Barnes, Thomas (Warburton 80), Winter, Lundy, Barlow, Coppin. Subs (not used): Southwood, McCartney, Coyne, Rooney.
Booked: Woodford (dissent 48)
Sent-off: None
Goals: Lundy 45, Barlow 65
Attendance: 969
Referee: J Tyas (A Bowen 17)
Player PointsTom Baker 44, Junior Brown 34, Ashley Stott 21, Scott Phelan 17, Jonathan Smith 16, Nigel Jemson 13, Cavell Coo 12, Paul Evans 11, Paul Gedman 11, Lincoln Adams 11, Colin Daniel 10, Peter Moore 10, Jon Kennedy 9, Damien Allen 9, Michael Barnes 6, Mark Peers 5, Ritchie Sutton 5, Adam Morning 4, Paul Collins 4, Luke Hinsley 3, Steve Payne 3, Neil Ross 3, Nathan Joynes 3, Craig Smith 2, Justin Walker 2, Craig Ellison 2, Danny Ellis 1, Phil Senior 1.
You SayOver to you chairman. A quick appointment is needed so a new manager has time to build a promotion winning squad 4 next season - mad dennis
A good draw against a class side - dolly parton in the trafford net made a succession of brilliant saves against the superb town strikeforce - the taxman
Should have won comfortably but how many times have we said that this season - angry andy
