Barnsley missed out on a great opportunity to go back to the top of Division Two when they were held 1-1 by struggling Oldham in front of their biggest crowd of the season.
They had already squandered a 61st minute lead - with Oldham levelling just four minutes later - but Gudjon Thordarson's team were given a second bite at the cherry when they were awarded a contentious last minute penalty by referee by Paul Danson.
Oldham protested in vain after Dean Holden had been adjudged to have pushed striker Rory Fallon, but perhaps justice was done when Dutchman Dean Gorre fluffed his lines, sending his poor spot-kick against the bar.
Oldham had been the better side in the first half and could well have gone in at the break with the advantage.
Home keeper Sasa Ilic had to make a fine parry after 17 minutes to keep out a low drive from David Eyres, with lively striker Calvin Zola just missing out with the follow up.
Ilic then had to move smartly off his line to make important blocks from Paul Murray and Scott Vernon.
Barnsley struggled to make inroads into the Oldham rearguard, although Fallon had one close range header superbly tipped over by Oldham keeper Leslie Pogliacomi.
Midfielder Anthony Kay almost broke through two minutes before the break but his goal bound shot was blocked and Kevin Betsy's follow up effort was deflected wide.
Barnsley finally made the breakthrough with a brilliant goal just after the hour.
Gorre was the key man in the build up, threading an inch-perfect pass across the box to fellow midfielder Chris Lumsdon and he smashed a stunning right foot shot in off the far post.
There was almost a carbon copy goal minutes later when Gorre this time found Lumsdon on the edge of the box and the former Sunderland man spun and fired just inches wide.
But Oldham were level on 65 minutes. Slack marking in the Barnsley defence allowed the lively Zola time and space to pick out his strike partner Vernon who coolly side-footed past Ilic from eight yards.
Lee Crooks squandered a great chance for Barnsley on 77 minutes and then Gorre, so influential in the second half, missed the last gasp chance to earn three points for his side and put them back on top of the table.