The game wasn't a classic but it was the home side that just had the upperhand as they clinched the three points.
The game was only 43 seconds old when Daggers defender Tim Cole's back header to goalkeeper Tony Roberts fell short and Lewis Killeen intercepted the pass. However it was Roberts who saved the Daggers with a fingertip tackle to force a corner.
The home side took the lead on 14 minutes. A deep cross from Glen Southam fell for Scott Griffiths and his powerful left-foot shot was parried by Jon Kennedy to Mackail-Smith who scored from close range.
The team from West Yorkshire did manage to pressure the Daggers goal midway through the opening period and won three successive corners. From the third, Greg Young's header flew just over the bar.
Young also tried a hopeful long-range effort five minutes later but it was wide of the target.
There was a lively start to the second period with both teams attacking from the kick-off. Danny Forrest, for the visitors, and Chris Moore for the home side had good chances, but it was John Grant who almost equalised with a 54th minute chip from a Martin Foster free-kick.
The best move of the match arrived on 64 minutes when Moore's low cross found Mackail-Smith in the box and his shot was saved well by Kennedy.
Halifax's best effort came on 85 minutes when Matthew Doughty's fine cross found Killeen but he slipped as he shot and the ball went wide.
In the final moments Daggers substitute Cliff Akurang only needed to tap the ball home from a Sam Saunders cross but completely missed the ball.