Hellawell netted a fortuitous opener after 15 minutes when keeper Harrison Foulkes’ clearance crashed back against the former Chester man and into the empty net.

With the score at 1-0 on the half-hour mark, Widnes keeper Owen Wheeler saved an Elliott Holmes penalty to preserve his side’s slender advantage.

But Pickering would eventually muster a second-half equaliser when Danny Earl bundled home a free-kick from close-range.

The result leaves Widnes without a win in eight games as the Whites slip to 17th in the table, five points clear of opponents Pickering who remain rooted to the foot of the table.

With Adam Morgan still unavailable following his move from Mossley, co-bosses Steve Akrigg and Kev Towey made one change to the side beaten at City of Liverpool last time out, with Hellawell replacing Lewis Buckley who dropped to the bench.

Elsewhere, Fisnik Hajdari missed out with a knee injury while George Webster earned a recall after impressing on dual-registration deal at Runcorn Town to take a place on the bench.

Widnes made the brighter start. Jay Roberts’ floated free-kick was nodded into the side-netting by Michael Grogan while Ben Hodkinson had an effort blocked moments later after good work by James Murray in the build-up.

Hodkinson then let a golden chance slip through his fingers as he raced on to a pass in behind, finding himself one-on-one with Foulkes, but the Pickering keeper did well to smother the ball at the striker’s feet as he advanced into the area.

The visitors’ fine start was rewarded with an early opener. Hodkinson turned provider as he looked to release Hellawell in behind. Keeper Foulkes won the race, but smashed his clearance straight at the Widnes winger, with the loose ball nestling in the back of the net.

It was a perhaps scruffy opener but for a side desperate for a result, Widnes were provided with a confidence boost having not tasted victory since mid-September.

But Pickering responded with Wheeler producing a magnificent save to tip Sam Cable’s seemingly goal-bound drive over the bar.

From the resulting corner, the Pikes were awarded a penalty after Hellawell felled Iwan Heeley, but Holmes’ spot-kick lacked quality and was comfortably saved by Wheeler.

The visitors maintained momentum and twice threatened a crucial second goal before the break. Grogan had a header comfortably held by Foulkes, while Murray managed to beat the Pickering keeper with a delicate chip, but Matty Turnbull recovered well to clear the danger.

Hosts Pickering started the second half the better of the two sides, but Widnes once again saw a chance go begging as Murray had a shot beaten away by Foulkes after superb footwork in the build-up.

Widnes suffered a blow early in the second period when left-back Shaun Holden limped off after being on the receiving end of a clumsy bodycheck, with forward James Steele forced to fill in off the bench.

The hosts were soon level, and it was a goal that Widnes so easily could have avoided. Grogan conceded a cheap free-kick in a decent position and the Pikes’ capitalised, with Earl turning home through a crowd of bodies with Wheeler stranded.

But the visitors responded well with Hodkinson twice flashing efforts across the face of goal that were begging for crucial touches to restore Widnes’ advantage.

Widnes were always in the ascendancy, but a dogged Pickering performance ultimately earned the hosts a much-needed point.

In truth, the Pikes had chances to steal the points with the best coming through Cable after he stole possession away from Danny Shaw, but Wheeler stood firm to make a decent block.

A draw was probably a fair result in the end, but had the points gone the way of Widnes, few could have argued with the outcome.

Hodkinson rattled the bar with a cross-cum-shot, while substitute Anointed Chukwu had an effort cleared off the line moments before Sam Heathcote’s venomous drive was blocked bravely by Turnbull.

Ultimately, Widnes were forced to settle for a point as their wait for a win drags on.