Barnsley had chalked up a dramatic 3-2 win at Luton earlier in the season - having played the whole of the second half with ten men.
It was role reversal at Oakwell as Joe Kinnear's play-off hopefuls saw goalkeeper Carl Emberson controversially sent off after 35 minutes but the Hatters chalked up a terrific 3-2 away success.
Barnsley had got off to a dream start, taking the lead after just 51 seconds.
Young full-back Robbie Williams delivered a long ball forward and Luton defender Chris Coyne ducked underneath the ball, clearly expecting Emberson to clear it, the makeshift striker Kevin Betsy stole in to round the keeper and tap the ball home.
Midfielder Gary Jones then sent a fierce volley against the Luton bar and Bruce Dyer had three difficult chances which he flashed across the face of goal.
Luton keeper Emberson was sent off in the 35th minute after the assistant referee flagged that he had caught the ball outside the area.
The visitors hauled themselves level in the last minute of the first half, an error by Brian O Callaghan presenting the ball to Matthew Spring who sent a 25-yarder rocketing into the top corner.
Another defensive howler, this time, a Williams header that failed to find home keeper Andy Marriott, enabled Tony Thorpe to put Luton into a 509th minute lead.
Thorpe made it 3-1 on 64 minutes before Barnsley pulled one back 15 minutes from time, Jones being brought down in the box and Dyer sending sub keeper Mark Ovendale the wrong way from the spot.