Less than two hours later, after a 3-0 defeat, everyone inside the Shay knew the new team had a fight on its hands if it was to make an impact in Unibond One North.
Manager Jim Vince had put together a side in a relatively short period of time and they failed to fire against the Preston side.
And even though Vince almost completely rebuilt the team over the course of the campaign the Shaymen were destined to fail in their bid to gain promotion at the first attempt.
There were some highlights, the seven-game winning run that saw them surge to the top of the table among them.
But losing twice in three weeks to Rossendale United, a side eventually relegated from the division, and only winning seven of the last 25 games were not.
The new Shaymen bagged their first ever win three days after the season opener when Steve Payne forced the ball home from close range at Trafford.
But home fans had to wait until September 16 to see the side win a league game for the first time when Paul Gedman, at the club on loan from Droylsden, scored the only goal against Warrington.
Despite a 7-1 thrashing of Salford City at the Shay four days later things were still not going smoothly for Town who crashed out of the FA Cup at Nantwich after an abject second half display and were, if anything, worse against Harrogate Railway seven days later as they exited the FA Trophy.
When they trailed 2-0 at Garforth with minutes remaining, the alarm bells must have been ringing, not only in the dugout, but also the boardroom.
But goals from Kris King and Junior Brown saw Halifax fight back to claim a 2-2 draw and they went on to win the next seven in the league.
It was a decent run, with Skelmersdale United and Curzon Ashton among their victims, but in reality it only papered over the cracks.
The upturn in fortunes appeared to be centred around Colin Daniel a youngster on loan from Crewe who gave the strikeforce a real focal point.
He also bagged the only hat-trick of the season in a 4-0 victory over Clitheroe at the Shay.
The League One side wanted him back after one month and Town were never really able to replace him.
The defeats to Rossendale either side of a 3-3 draw with Newcastle Blue Star proved that consistency was never going to be their strong suit.
And when they kicked off 2009 with a 2-0 defeat at Harrogate Railway the knives on the terraces were out.
An unconvincing 3-2 win over Wakefield a couple of days later eased the pressure a little.
But that was to be the pattern through to the final month of the campaign as the teams with games in hand, notably eventual champions Durham City and Skelmersdale, slowly clawed their way back.
A run of three wins in a row over lowly trio Salford City, Garforth and Wakefield raised hopes again, but the performances were still unconvincing. And Town went on to win just two games in the final three months of the campaign.
It was a run that cost Vince his job with four matches to go and Nigel Jemson was unable to turn things round in his role as caretaker.
But despite claiming just two maximums in February and March, Town were still right in the mix for the play offs at the start of April.
Defeat at Skelmersdale finally ended Vince's reign but wins at Ossett on Good Friday and at home to Curzon Ashton on Easter Monday would see the Shaymen in pole position for a top five finish.
The Yorkshire derby was one of the most bizarre games in Halifax's recent history with four players - two from each side - sent off in a 2-2 draw.
That was not fatal but a 2-1 home defeat to Curzon three days later almost certainly was.
Jemson could do nothing to lift his weary troops and draws with Trafford and Chorley in the final two outings saw the campaign end with a whimper.
All the focus on was who would be Vince's permanent replacement and within three days of the game at Victory Park Neil Aspin was unveiled.
The appointment was well received and now he will have the whole summer to mould a squad.
Everyone wishes him well.