Jim Vince's side were out-fought and out-played by a Mossley side that was able to do all the things the Shaymen were not - they passed the ball, won tackles all over the pitch and carved out plenty of chances.
And the most depressing thing about the display was that it came after Halifax had bagged the opening goal of the game just 25 seconds in.
That ought to have seen the confidence surge through the players' veins.
Instead, it shook Mossley into action and the Shaymen could not cope.
The home side bossed the midfield and had a field day down the flanks while their defenders virtually had the night off.
But it should have been very different after Kris King - only in the side because Craig Smith pulled a thigh muscle in the warm-up - sent a ball down field for Adam Morning who fired home what every team craves -an early goal.
Perhaps it was too early.
Within five minutes the home side were level thanks to a comical equaliser from a Phil Charnock free kick that floated gently into the box, was missed by everyone and ended up in the back of the net.
Peter Moore and Justin Walker both tried their luck from long range, but neither was able to trouble Liam Higginbotham in the Mossley goal.
At the other end, Mossley should have gone in front, but eight-goal leading scorer Mike Fish stabbed a shot wide from inside the six-yard box after Town had failed to deal with a corner.
Morning flashed an effort narrowly wide from 25 yards before Scott Hall got round the back of the Town defence on the left and pulled a cross back for Ryan Cook whose shot was blocked by Walker.
Moments later Cook played in former Halifax youngster Simon Wood who blazed over from an angle.
Danny Davidson, on for hamstring victim Junior Brown, did well on the edge of the area eight minutes before the break and bought himself a yard of space but could only send a left foot shot at the keeper.
Jon Kennedy then saved well from Lee Blackshaw whose 18-yard shot was destined for the back of the net.
And that was a real warning of what was to come in the second half.
Town actually had the first opportunity, but Davidson's first touch from a Morning cross field pass let him down.
And Mossley took full advantage by hitting the front in the 48th minute.
Blackshaw skipped away down the left hand side and had enough time inside the area to pick out a pass for Fish who fired home his ninth of the season.
The in-form striker had another effort blocked by Lincoln Adams soon after and Kennedy produced a wonder save in the 54th minute to deny Danny Dignan who headed a Cook cross goalwards from the edge of the six yard area.
The relentless Mossley pressure finally told in the 58th minute when Blackshaw got away again, only to be pulled back by Harban.
The referee and his assistant agreed the offence had been committed inside the area and Fish moved into double figures from the spot.
Kennedy was back in action a couple of minutes later when Fish charged down Harban's attempted clearance and raced through on goal, the keeper saving with his legs.
The Town stopper was forced to save with his legs again with 14 minutes remaining, this time from Dignan who had latched onto a Dave Hanlon pass.
Mossley were toying with Town by that stage, passing the ball and moving well to create space for themselves.
It made for unpleasant viewing.
But for all their possession, they never really threatened to score again.
Town might have bagged a consolation second late in the game, but Morning's corner that flew goalwards off a defender, was saved by Higginbotham.
And with the seconds ticking away, although never fast enough for Town or the travelling fans, Stott found himself free on the right only to miss the target.

MATCH FACTS
Mossley: Higginbotham, Wood, Weston, Kay, Boothby, Charnock (Prout 65), Holt (Hanlon 56), Cook, Fish, Dignan (Boshell 70), Blackshaw. Subs (not used): Egan, Wharton.
Booked: None
Sent-off: None
Goals: Charnock 6, Fish 48, 58 pen

FC Halifax Town: Kennedy, Harban (Hinsley 60), King, Payne, Adams, Moore, J Smith, Walker, Stott, Brown (Davidson 22 (Jemson 63)), Morning. Subs (not used): Senior, Barras
Booked: Morning (foul 75)
Sent-off: None
Goal: Morning 1

Attendance: 507
Referee: David Unsworth

STAR SHAYMAN
On a night when you have conceded three goals you would not expect the goalkeeper to be the star of the show.
But Jon Kennedy produced one of only two moments of magic for the Shaymen at Seel Park.
Danny Dignan was all ready to celebrate when he sent a six-yard header goalwards only for the Town keeper to pull off an amazing save to deny him.
He also saved a couple late on with his legs to keep the score down to something approaching respectability.
Adam Morning was the other player to give the travelling Town fans something to cheer.
His well struck shot after 25 seconds promised better things ahead.
Sadly for the team it proved to be a false dawn.
The midfield went missing for large parts of the game, but Peter Moore never stopped working although his efforts went almost entirely unrewarded.
Kennedy takes the three points on offer in our season long competition with Morning two and Moore one.

PLAYER POINTS
Jonathan Smith 10, Junior Brown 7, Peter Moore 5, Jon Kennedy 3, Steve Payne 3, Lincoln Adams 3, Ashley Stott 3, Nigel Jemson 2, Adam Morning 2, Craig Smith 2, Phil Senior 1, Luke Hinsley 1.

• Get our free email news alerts - the latest Town headlines direct to your inbox