DEWSBURY Rams produced a vastly improved performance on Tuesday evening but it wasn't enough to prevent them slipping to a sixth straight defeat in Co-operative National League One.
Trailing 24-12 at half-time, the Rams looked to be up against it but produced an excellent fightback and were desperately unlucky not to earn at least a draw.
The match hinged on a wonderful try-saving tackle after 71 minutes. Dewsbury had fought back to within six points when Dominic Maloney scattered the Widnes defence with a barnstorming drive and found Dean Lawford in support on his inside.
Lawford looked a certain scorer but somehow hooker Mark Smith got back and held him up in the in-goal area.
Full-timers Widnes had looked out on their feet but that incident gave them a new lease of life and they went on to clinch victory with a last-minute drop-goal.
Rams centre Andrew Bostock had a superb game, continually driving at the Widnes defence and he was rewarded with a hat-trick of tries.
Dewsbury look a far better side when they move the ball out wide and fellow centre Chris Langley also produced a determined effort.
Lawford was much improved than of late and relished in dictating play with good support from stand-off Pat Walker.
Maloney, once again, led the pack but there was good support from Aaron Trinder and Martin Robinson, while Tere Glassie also showed up well.
There was a first start of the season at full-back for Chris Hall and he looked assured, leaping to gather several high kicks when Widnes threatened.
Solid early defence denied Widnes attacks and this seemed to give the Rams confidence.
The Rams took a 10th-minute lead when two defenders allowed an up-and-under to bounce. Austin Buchanan gathered and looped a superb ball inside to Bostock, who carried a defender over the line and Walker converted from the left touchline.
Widnes replied soon after as the impressive Bob Beswick produced a short ball to send Richard Fletcher over. Gavin Dodd converted.
Far from being overawed, Dewsbury regained the lead. Immediately after coming on David Rourke produced a fine driving run to take them close before Lawford moved quickly left and Bostock bounced out of a tackle and spun over the line. Walker added another superb goal.
The lead lasted just five minutes as Duffy sent Ben Kavanagh over and Dodd converted to kick-start a spell which saw Widnes score three tries in five minutes.
Prop Jim Gannon barged over and Dodd converted and when Widnes came again Mark Smith's short pass sent Sam Barlow crashing between the posts. Dodd's fourth goal put Widnes 24-12 ahead at the break.
Any thoughts of a regulation win for the visitors were dashed early in the second half as Trinder broke a tackle inside his own half and charged upfield. Dewsbury moved quickly left, creating an overlap for Bostock to storm over for his hat-trick try. Walker was unable to convert but the Rams had hope.
Dodd replied with a 55th minute try out wide but the real drama came in the final quarter as Dewsbury produced a storming finish.
Maloney was held inches short of the line, despite some Dewsbury supporters behind the posts claiming he had managed to stretch over between the posts.
Hall then ran the ball in and flipped it back. Josh Weeden and Liam Finn linked to feed Lawford, who shimmied his way through the defence to score and Walker converted to bring Dewsbury to within six points.
Then came the talking point as Maloney fed Lawford but he was held up and although Dewsbury created further chances, their hopes were dashed when Beswick landed a 45-yard drop goal in the final minute.
On this evidence there is still hope that Dewsbury can get themselves out of trouble.
Dewsbury Rams: Hall; Powell, Langley, Bostock, Buchanan; Walker, Lawford; Trinder, Finn, Maloney, Robinson, Glassie, Weeden. Subs (all used): Haigh, Rourke, Wilson, Helme.
Widnes Vikings: Hardman; Gaskell, Crookes, Patterson, Dodd; Beswick, Duffy; Morrison, Smith, Gannon, Hill, Fletcher, Gallagher. Subs (all used): Grady, Barlow, Draper, Kavanagh.
Referee: Ronnie Laughton (Barnsley).
Attendance: 1,434.