The Whites fell behind on the half-hour mark when Elliott Harrison lashed an opener into the root of the net, but the visitors were only in front for six minutes before Jamie Rainford equalised.

They were in front at the interval as James Murray netted in first half stoppage time to establish a lead that Widnes retained until the 88th minute when Marko Basic curled a free-kick beyond Richie Mottram to rescue a point for Ossett.

Rainford was recalled to the starting XI amongst two Widnes changes to the side beaten at home by Colne last time out, replacing co-boss Kev Towey who left himself out of the 16-man squad.

Elsewhere, Shaun Holden recovered from injury to return at left-back with Callum Humphries dropping to the bench, while there was a place on the bench for Jack Banister after completing a return to the DCBL Stadium earlier in the week.

There was no repeat of the sluggish starts that have plagued Widnes at home in recent weeks. They started well and could have twice taken an early lead.

Murray drew Scott Moloney away from his goal to tee up James Steele, but the Widnes man’s effort ran wide of the empty net and into the side-netting from an acute angle.

Moments later, Rainford latched on to an incisive Kingsley Williams pass before patiently engineering space for a shot that agonisingly crashed back off the crossbar.

While Ossett did threaten on occasion with Mottram saving a tame Tom Greaves effort, Widnes looked the more likely side to notch an opener.

They really should have been ahead when Rainford fizzed a cross into the area, finding Murray but Moloney made himself big to block the winger’s effort from point-blank range as a gilt-edged Widnes chance went begging.

But it was Ossett who landed the first blow as they took the lead. A cross was only half-cleared to the edge of the area, sitting up nicely for Harrison to rocket a powerful effort into the roof of the net with Mottram stranded.

Widnes responded well and eventually found a way through a stubborn Ossett backline.

It was a corner routine straight from the training ground as Holden played one short to Jay Roberts who floated a cross in where Rainford gambled on a goalmouth scramble to prod home an equaliser from close-range.

Ossett really should have restored their advantage on the stroke of half-time but Nick Guest sliced a simple effort off target, and Widnes punished their opponents in first half stoppage time.

It was an incisive counter-attack with Steven Hoy winning possession back and quickly found Fisnik Hajdari. The midfielder then held off the challenge of Basic to play a pass into the feet of Ryan Jennings and Widnes were away on the break.

Jennings quickly released the run of Steele who provided a cross to put it on a plate for Murray to turn home from inside the six-yard area.

The second half failed to live up to the billing after an entertaining opening 45 minutes.

Both sides exchanged half chances with Jennings seeing an effort deflected wide for Widnes while Ossett’s Basic had a pop from a tight angle that Mottram was equal to.

The Whites introduced both new signing Banister and top goalscorer Ben Hodkinson from the bench as they sought a killer third goal.

But it was Ossett who notched the game’s crucial fourth goal and it came somewhat against the run of play two minutes from time.

Wayne Benn’s side launched a counter-attack that led to a three-vs-two situation and an Alex McQuade foul on the edge of his own area.

Basic stepped up and equalised with a sumptuous free-kick much to the agony of the Widnes faithful with keeper Mottram well-beaten.

Widnes rallied and were twice denied by Ossett keeper Moloney in the game’s late stages as the Whites looked to restore their advantage.

Murray’s deep cross found Banister who was denied a debut goal on his return by a strong Moloney glove down to the keeper’s right.

And Hodkinson looked certain to win it inside second half stoppage time as he raced clear only to be thwarted by the brave, outstretched hand of the Sheepicorns goalkeeper who dove at the striker’s feet as Hodkinson looked to round him but to no avail.