All eyes were on the Halifax side's kicker after a last-minute goal, but he was unable to fully flex the conversion round as Malton grabbed a valuable victory.
Crosleyans kicked off in low sunlight but it was Malton who applied the early pressure, launching one attack after another on the home line.
And after being awarded a penalty 10 meters short in the second phase, Will Dunn went down to open the visitors' account after just seven minutes.
This was Malton's early advantage. Their hosts were only able to get into the attacking half twice.
Crosleyans' discipline didn't help matters either, and after being penalized in the 15th minute for deliberately knocking the ball down, Malton took full advantage of Paul Angus to line the corner from a penalty kick. I decided to go out.
Captain Sam Triffitt left midway through the first half, causing the visitors to shuffle their pack, but after pushing away their own set-piece with a beckoning line, they were awarded a penalty, their third goal of the day.
However, Halifax's team grew as the game progressed and Malton took a decisive chop tackle from Dunn to thank for snuffing out the danger.
Three minutes later, the hosts lost their promising No. 10 to a shoulder injury as Malton put their own defense to the test, but they soon resumed their pressure at the other end of the pitch.
In two successive scrums, Jack Jones put on a simple show to break through the whitewash and give Malton a 19-0 lead at the end of half-time.
However, Crosleyans regained their momentum in the second half and completely changed their team.
They crossed the Malton line five minutes into the first half, but it was ruled one roll too many. But it was a warning that went unheeded.
Malton was forced to pay his third consecutive penalty and was sent back into action. Crossleyan found a breakthrough in the 55th minute before their kicker hit the uprights, but this would come back to haunt them later in the game.
Malton's poor discipline continued and old habits resurfaced under pressure, with Bell being shown a yellow card shortly after the match, before the stand-in captain received a team warning.
The pressure from the ever-defending Cross Reance finally got through, and the visitors' defense was breached for the second time in the 66th minute. This time, the conversion was successful, reducing the gap to seven points.
But it was just what Malton needed to rebuild as James Ballmer was able to collect a perfectly weighted kick into the corner, setting up a catch-and-drive with Tom Rowley to escape the lead and secure a try bonus point. It proved necessary. 10 minutes left.
Malton began to set their sights on securing the remaining four points, but Crossleyans had other ideas, especially after Ollie Owar was carded for interfering with the No. 9 in a loose scrum. .
They then crossed the Malton line in the 75th minute to seal the final with a one-goal lead and potentially claim a share of the spoils.
With one minute remaining, the inevitable score became reality, and it seemed like the winner was decided.
All eyes were on Crosleyan's kicker, but while Malton breathed a collective sigh of relief, Crossleyan's kicker hit the upright again and held on for a two-point victory.
Malton will return to action against Goole on Saturday at The Gannock.
