Neil Aspin took the chance to rotate his starting eleven a little, with Ben Procter impressing again in goal, the welcome return of Scott Phelan in midfield, Matt Plummer given a run out at right-back and Richard Marshall awarded his first start of pre-season.
Clitheroe tried to show old boys Simon Garner and Nathan Taylor what they'd be leaving behind with a lively opening few minutes, but Halifax soon took control and saw their first chance go by when James Riley fired a Garner free-kick wide after ten minutes.
Phelan was next to find his range, his curling shot testing the home 'keeper before Taylor had a shot blocked following a goalmouth scramble. Phelan, showing some touches of quality in the middle, was having a greater influence on proceedings with every passing minute as Town gained the upper hand.
Jamie Vardy had the best chance so far when he was sent clear by Mark Bower's pass, but opted to pass across to Taylor rather than shoot and the ball was cleared.
Opportunities were coming thick and fast now as Riley was next to pierce the Clitheroe back line, finding Garner who played in Marshall, but he shot wide as the opening goal got closer.
The action then suddenly switched to the other end as Procter was forced into two excellent saves within a minute. Such pressure was against the run of play though, as proved two minutes later when Vardy's left-wing cross found Taylor at the far post for a tap-in to score the goal that had seemed inevitable for a while against his former employers.
Town were looking extremely confident now, enjoying the space in-front of and behind Clitheroe's back four, with a host of chances available but for a perfect through-ball. One did arrive five minutes before the interval though as Riley found the run from Phelan, who fired superbly across the 'keeper with a first-time shot to double the Shaymen's advantage.
Every through ball from Town carried a hint of menace with it, sending the home defence into a panic with the on-rushing pace of Vardy and Taylor causing no end of problems.
Halifax's third couldn't have been more different though, as Nick Gray was left unmarked at the far post to prod home after Taylor had nodded on a corner ten minutes after the interval..
Town were cruising now, but a determined Clitheroe fought their way back into the game with two goals in as many minutes from substitute Tom Williams. His first was a fine individual effort, firing past Phil Senior at his near post from the edge of the box before he converted a right-wing cross at the near post for his second.
Any hopes of a relaxing last half-an-hour for Aspin's men had been extinguished, but Town's fitness levels were sure to be improved with a competitive second-half that saw Clitheroe looking for an unexpected equaliser.
The pace of the game certainly picked up as the home side increased their efforts, forcing Senior into a sharp save with a bullet header from a corner.
However, Town hung on fairly comfortably to claim a good win but an even better workout ahead of their final warm-up match on Saturday.
Clitheroe:
Goalscorers: Williams (63 & 65)
Shots On Target: 4, Shots Off Target: 5, Corners: 4
FC Halifax Town : Procter (Senior 45), Plummer, Garner, Phelan, Riley, Bower, Gray, Marshall, Taylor, Vardy, Metcalfe.
Goalscorers: Taylor (27), Phelan (40), Gray (54)
Shots On Target: 7, Shots Off Target: 7, Corners: 5
Tom Scargill
