The Shaymen will kick themselves because, having taken the lead through a Steve Payne penalty, they went in at the break behind.
But they responded well in the second half and James Dean's 20th goal of the campaign gave them a share of the spoils.
They might even have gone on to win after home keeper Ryan McMahon was red carded for a head butt on Dean with 10 minutes remaining.
But his stand-in Aaron Turner - a midfielder forced to don the shirt because United had no sub keeper - was never tested.
It was a tetchy game with nine yellow cards in addition to the red and as a result there was never much flowing football.
The home side looked lively in the opening minutes and Aaron Hardy was forced into an error from a long ball forward, heading back towards his own goal and forcing Jonathan Hedge to scramble as it bounced a foot wide.
Steven Akrigg got free at the far post from a Martin Crouder free kick on the right but could only head wide.
And Mark Houghton latched onto a Kyle Armstrong pass before flashing a shot across the face of goal.
Town's best early chance came from a Tom Baker corner on the right which Steve Payne headed over.
And the home side continued to look dangerous with Adam Wade forcing Hedge to dive to his right and save from the edge of the area and the Town keeper claiming a Crouder shot at the second attempt.
Dean did well to win the ball midway through the first half and send Nicky Gray clear, but his shot went wide.
And, after Baker had sent Gray away on the right, he crossed towards Richard Marshall who was denied by a last ditch challenge from Shaun Foster.
Akrigg fired into the side netting before Town broke the deadlock in the 35th minute after Hardy crossed for Dean and he was judged to have been fouled by Akrigg. Payne kept his cool from the spot, blasting the ball low and straight.
Town's lead lasted six minutes as Foster got free on the right and pulled the ball back for Ryan Wade whose shot deflected past Hedge off James Riley.
And within a minute the home side were ahead as the ball fell at Armstrong's feet 25 yards out on the right and, on the half volley, he curled an unstoppable shot inside the far post with the outside of his right foot.
Neither side made much headway in the opening minutes of the second half, Ryan Wade's overhead kick sailing wide of Hedge's goal at one end and Crouder doing well to deny Dean the opportunity to get on the end of a Marshall flick.
The game sprang back into life after the hour, starting with a Mark Peers shot that Gray tried to turn goalwards.
Houghton won a header against Riley before racing clear and firing narrowly wide at the other end, and when the same player beat Riley again and was fouled it set up the chance for Crouder to curl a 30-yard free kick off the post.
That seemed to shock Town back into action with Marshall sending a glancing header from Baker's corner just wide of the target before Gray had an effort deflected wide.
Baker sent in another corner in the 72nd minute and in the melee that followed Gray was denied at close range by the keeper.
Two minutes later the Shaymen were level after Dan Codman had done well to find Marshall on the left. He crossed to the edge of the six yard area where Dean nodded home.
Skelmersdale swept forward with Hedge saving well from Foster and brilliantly from Ryan Wade as the home side threatened to retake the lead.
Hedge was in action again a couple of minutes later, diving to his left to save from Chris Almond who had cut in from the right.
Skelmersdale were reduced to 10 men in the 80th minute in bizarre circumstances.
A ball bounced through to keeper McMahon who took it under pressure from Dean.
The pair clashed, with McMahon aiming a head butt in the Town man's direction and he was promptly sent off.
Diminutive Turner took over but the Shaymen never got in a position to test him as the home side comfortably saw out the remaining time.

MATCH FACTS
Skelmersdale Utd: McMahon, Foster, Crouder, White, Turner, Almond, Armstrong, Houghton, R Wade, A Wade. Subs (not used): Duffy, Burke, Towey, Woolcott, Harrison
Goals: R Wade 41, Armstrong 42
Booked: Akrigg (dissent 35), White (dissent 35), Turner (unsporting behaviour 38), A Wade (foul 85).
Sent-off: McMahon 90 (violent conduct)

FC Halifax Town: Hedge, Hardy (Hotte 90), Codman, Riley, Payne, Crossley (Peers 46), Phelan, Baker, Gray, Marshall, Dean. Subs (not used): Senior, Harrison, Sanasy.
Goals: Payne 35pen, Dean 74
Booked: Marshall (retaliation 38), Riley (foul 64), Balker (foul 66), Dean (foul 80), Phelan (unsporting behaviour 90)
Sent-off: None

Attendance: 927
Referee: B Cropp

STAR SHAYMAN
He might have conceded two goals - something that will have irritated him no end - but Jonathan Hedge produced a top drawer performance at Stormy Corner.
His double save, moments after Town had levelled, to deny Shaun Foster and Ryan Wade ensured the Shaymen returned from Merseyside with a point
It was the perfect way for him to leave the club and link up with the England C squad for tomorrow's game in Poland.
Richard Marshall is not getting the rub of the green as far as scoring chances are concerned.
But that is taking nothing away from his overall contribution to the team effort.
He was impressive again on Saturday and his cross for James Dean to head home the equaliser could not have made the chance any easier for his strike partner.
Steve Payne is becoming a potent weapon as far as scoring is concerned and he kept his cool to slot home another penalty.
He had to show great composure as the Skelmersdale defenders spent three minutes arguing with the referee before the Town centre back could blast home.
Hedge takes the three points on offer in our season-long competition with Marshall two and Payne one.

PLAYER POINTS
Gray 22, Marshall 20, Payne 19, Dean 17, Crossley 12, Baker 12, Hedge 10, Riley 8, Hotte 7, Hardy 6, Codman 4, Phelan 4, Harrison 2, Peers 2, Richardson 2.

YOU SAY
set pieces free kicks were shockin need more class up front cant praise teamwork all the time we were poor today honest fan

mark peers introduction got us out of jail. composure in front of goal needs to be addressed worried man