Neither team could quite muster an elusive goal to take all three points, and while Widnes perhaps edged the proceedings, it was Trafford who had the better chances, but they came up against a goalkeeper in inspired form.

Winless since mid-September, co-bosses Steve Akrigg and Kev Towey tinkered with their line-up and formation with a switch to 3-5-2, although Akrigg admitted after the game that it was forced change due to a number of absentees.

In fact, the Whites were missing Jay Roberts, Danny Ventre, Sam Heathcote and James Steele, but were boosted by the returns of Mike Burke and Fisnik Hajdari, with the latter featuring for the first time in six weeks due to injury.

Elsewhere, teenagers Amir Hajri and Matthew Jefferson from the club’s youth academy were named amongst the substitutes.

Widnes started well and could have taken an early lead. Shaun Holden found space from left-back to send a delicious cross into the area that was met by Ben Hodkinson, but he could only turn over from inside the six-yard area.

Chances were at a premium, but Hodkinson was again involved in Widnes’ next best chance as he beat Trafford keeper Matt Cooper to a loose ball 25 yards from goal only to pull his shot across the face of goal and wide as the angle diminished.

That sprung Trafford into life who spurned two decent chances before the break. Curtis Miller latched on to a clever through-ball into the area, only to shoot straight at Stone while the on-loan Mansfield Town shot-stopper would push a Lewis Walters free-kick away to safety minutes later.

Hodkinson had the ball in the net inside first half stoppage time but was denied by the offside flag, although replays showed that Widnes’ top goalscorer was level as the ball was played.

The second half was equally as tight with both sides struggling to create too many clear-cut chances.

Trafford’s Sam Grimshaw and Widnes’ Rhain Hellawell both fired off target early in the half, while the hosts rolled the dice with the introduction of James Murray from the bench.

The former Witton Albion man could have won it for Widnes 12 minutes from time. Hodkinson held possession and teed up Murray to drive into the area, only to shoot straight at Cooper as space opened up kindly for the shot.

Sam Sheen then blazed over for Widnes, while Trafford saw their best chance of the game go begging with Stone once again proving to be a reliable last line of defence for the hosts.

Tom Baker’s launched an incisive breakaway spearheaded by substitute Tom Schofield. His cross fell for Lewis Salmon, who dropped the shoulder to engineer space for a shot that was brilliantly beaten away by an instinctive Stone save.

Stone was again equal to a Salmon effort moments later but neither side particularly threatened as both were forced to settle for a point.