Due to a mix up before the match with Gateshead only bringing blue shirts with them, the away side were forced to play in Town's luminous orange away shirts, which were by far the brightest thing on show as both teams huffed and puffed to a 0-0 draw.
This was the visitors' eighth pre-season match, compared to Halifax's fourth, so inevitably, the Blue Square Premier side were fitter than their hosts, although both teams were given a good but unspectacular workout.
Ex-Arsenal player Brian Marwood staked an early claim for Most Famous Visitor To The Shay this season, as he was watching son James from the stands, although he may now regret his decision to swap Eastenders for a cold night in West Yorkshire.
While the 4-3-3 formation worked well at Hyde on Saturday, it seemed to restrict Town's play a little in the opening 45, with Danny Holland left isolated at times, despite putting in his already customary hard-working display.
Goalscoring opportunities in the first half were harder to find than a Premier League footballer in Pound Stretchers, even though both sides tried to keep the ball on the floor.
The North-Easterners showed some nice touches in midfield and were patient in their build-up play, only playing the long ball as a last resort. However, most of the fare was pedestrian with only brief glimpses of fast-flowing football.
Most of Town's more productive moments early on came through Nick Gray, although Harry Winter, who was again given a free role behind Holland, had the Shaymen's first real chance when he fired over from the edge of the area midway into the first half.
Gray embarked on mazy run and shot on 36 minutes, but his curling effort with his weaker left foot was easily saved by Tim Deasey.
At the other end, Gateshead's front two of Brian Wake and Gary Mulligan looked sharp, with the former scuffing a very presentable chance after 25 minutes before the latter saw his bobbling shot hit the post three minutes later.
Simon Garner's energy seemed better utilised in central midfield as he regularly popped up in both boxes. Unfortunately, the ball didn't.
Richard Marshall's introduction at the start of the second half indicated a more attacking approach from Neil Aspin's men, but Gateshead maintained their overall control of the game.
Ian Bogie's side had their first shot on target a few minutes after the interval with a free-kick that Jonathan Hedge could have thrown his hat on, but the prospect of a goal still appeared unlikely.
Scott Metcalfe's forays down the left decreased after being moved to wing-back, but his run and cross midway through the second 45 deserved better than Aaron Hardy's fierce but rising drive over the bar.
Deasey's constant ball-playing attempts almost backfired on him when Holland reached a through ball ahead of him on 72 minutes, but a sea of Gateshead defenders managed to win the ensuing goalmouth scramble.
Halifax began to gain the upper hand as Gray popped up on the left to produce a decent turn and shot that was well saved, before Ben Procter's hopes of a quiet substitute's appearance was shattered when he was forced into a spectacular save from fellow replacement David Dowson's shot.
Sanchez Heffernan almost grabbed a late winner with his first touch but was inches away from converting a right wing cross. Shortly afterwards, Metcalfe saw a bullet shot tipped wide by Deasy and Marshall forced him into a superb close range stop as Town put the visitors under some late pressure.
Halifax: Hedge (Procter 65), Hardy, Bower, Baker, Riley, Hogan,, Gray, Winter (Plummer 80), Holland (Heffernan 86), Garner (Marshall 45), Metcalfe. Subs Not Used: Senior (GK),
Shots On Target: 6, Shots Off Target: 3, Corners: 5
Gateshead: Deasey, Jones, Heckingbottom, J Clarke (Gate 76), Milne, Flynn, Marwood, Turnbull, Mulligan (Dowson 76), Wake (Allan 45), Ferrell. (Britain 60) Subs Not Used: B Clark, Morris, Brown, Cook,
Shots On Target: 4, Shots Off Target: 3, Corners: 4
Attendance: 474
Tom Scargill
