WIDNES Vikings were all set to be celebrating their first away win of the season when their hearts were broken in the final play of a frantic ‘derby’ at The Halliwell Jones Stadium.

Super League’s 2014 top try scorer Joel Monaghan squeezed over in the corner with 14 seconds remaining on the clock to settle a thrilling contest in which Vikings more than played their part.

Warrington opened the scoring in the 11th minute on the back of Widnes failing to complete a set.

Ryan Atkins fed Gene Ormsby into the corner but Stefan Ratchford was unable to pot the shot at goal from the touchline in a tricky wind.

As much as Warrington dominated the opening 15 minutes, Vikings enjoyed their own spell of possession and pressure and it was reward when Jack Owens dived over from acting half back in the 22nd minute to level up the scores.

Two touches in two minutes from Ben Westwood turned things Wolves’ way.

Firstly, the England back rower kicked perfectly to the corner for Joel Monaghan to restore the home team’s four-point advantage.

Then it was from his break that Daryl Clark cantered over between the sticks, with Ratchford adding his first goal to make it 14-4 after 34 minutes.

Widnes sniffed a response though and after forcing several drop-outs Brown passed brilliantly over the top for Paddy Flynn to fly over with the last play of the half.

Vikings got the start they needed to the second period, Brown using his dancing feet to cross between the posts and Owens’ conversion levelled matters at 14-14 after 45 minutes.

Denis Betts’ men went ahead for the first time when Brown stole the ball one-on-one with Ben Harrison and raced 70 metres to score in the 57th minute. Owens converted.

Vikings survived when Monaghan won the leap in the air to a kick from Patton and his pass for Ben Currie to cross was ruled forward on 64 minutes.

Wolves did get over minutes later though through Westwood, ploughing over from dummy half after Ormsby had been held up short. Declan Patton missed the conversion.

Owens had a try off a Brown pass ruled out for crossing as Vikings sought a decisive score with 11 minutes remaining.

But it all came down to the last play of the match, Monaghan crossing for his second try and he was fed into the corner by Ratchford and Chris Bridge.

Wolves: Stefan Ratchford; Joel Monaghan, Chris Bridge, Ryan Atkins, Gene Ormsby; Declan Patton, Richie Myler; Chris Hill, Micky Higham, Anthony England, Ben Westwood, Ben Currie, Ben Harrison. Subs: Daryl Clark, Ashton Sims, Roy Asotasi, James Laithwaite.

Vikings: Rhys Hanbury; Paddy Flynn, Stefan Marsh, Chris Dean, Jack Owens; Kevin Brown, Joe Mellor; Eamon O'Carroll, Lloyd White, Alex Gerrard, Danny Tickle, Danny Galea, Willie Isa. Subs: Chris Clarkson, Aaron Heremaia, Phil Joseph, Manase Manuokafoa.