Tony Gallimore spent over six years as a Grimsby player and he certainly did his old club a massive favour at Oakwell by missing an 88th minute penalty for Barnsley.
The spot kick was awarded for a rather soft challenge by ex-Barnsley full-back Darren Barnard on striker Isaiah Rankin. But Gallimore failed to test keeper Aidan Davison, putting his left foot shot wide.
It was disappointment for Barnsley as they were seeking the three points which would have lifted them into the top three in the Second Division and would have provided a wonderful end to the day for Peter Ridsdale, who had officially completed his takeover of the South Yorkshire club in the early hours of Saturday morning.
Barnsley struggled to get their game going after two good wins on the road and it was Grimsby who should have led comfortably at the break.
They created their first chance on ten minutes when the home defence misjudged the length of a long ball from the back and lively striker Mick Boulding sent a shot fizzing past the far post.
Six minutes later, Iffy Onuora headed wide from eight yards after the Barnsley rearguard had again been caught out.
Grimsby's third great chance in the opening 20 minutes again fell to Boulding, but this time he fired straight at Sasa Ilic.
Barnsley's best chance of the first half came in the 32nd minute when Kevin Betsy laid the ball back to home debutant Steven Carson whose left wing cross was headed just wide by fellow new boy Jacob Burns.
Barnsley made a much better start to the second period and Betsy should have scored on 53 minutes but, instead of firing first time, he waited and eventually saw his shot blocked by John McDermott.
As the half wore on, the home side began to crank up the pressure and a looping header from substitute Rory Fallon had to be tipped over by Davison.
With three minutes left, Rankin appeared to be pulled back by Tony Crane inside the Grimsby box, but referee Alan Wiley failed to point to the spot.
But seconds later, Wiley did point to the spot after Rankin went down under the challenge of Barnard. It was perhaps a harsh decision, but Gallimore came to his old club's rescue by putting the penalty wide.