FC HALIFAX Town’s hopes of notching a tenth consecutive league and cup victory were dashed as they were beaten 3-0 at promotion rivals Gainsborough Trinity.

The Shaymen had hoped that the New Year’s Day Blue Square North clash would bring them the points they needed to make an assault on the top three, but instead the defeat sees them slip to fifth with Gainsborough moving above them into fourth place.

In front of a crowd of 906, Neil Aspin’s Shaymen were on terms at half-time after a goalless 45 minutes, but the second half saw the home side take control.

Trinity broke the deadlock on 53 minutes when Craig Nelthorpe scored and they had a second within ten minutes as Terry Hawkridge netted from the penalty spot.

Any hopes the Shaymen had of bouncing were soon quashed as Darryn Stamp grabbed the home side’s third on 65 minutes.

The Shaymen will have to wait to get their promotion push back on course as they are without a fixture at the weekend.

Their next game is a home league clash with Solihull Moors on Tuesday, January 8 (7.45).