The Mariners, under new boss Mike Newell, who was introduced to the crowd before the start, led after a mere 51 seconds but despite tremendous backing from the crowd could not get over the winning line.
They made the best possible start with a well created goal inside the first minute.
Peter Bore, making his first start of the season, sent Nathan Jarman scurrying away and although a shot from Nick Hegarty appeared to be going in, Bore made certain by scrambling the ball over the line.
But that was as good as it got for Grimsby, who had to defend for much of the game and relied on a man of the match performance from keeper Phil Barnes.
The keeper made some tremendous saves, none more so than ten minutes from time when he somehow scrambled a Chris Zebroski header round the post.
Wycombe had midfielder Tom Doherty sent off five minutes from time for a bad challenge on Grimsby midfielder James Hunt but the ten men managed to conjure up the equaliser.
It came from a free-kick floated in by Craig Woodman and the ball was flicked on before defender Leon Johnson got the final touch.
It was certainly no more than Wycombe deserved as they gave Grimsby's defensive qualities a terrific test.
The effort was certainly there from the Mariners which must have pleased Newell, but he obviously has a lot of work to do to improve the skill factor and get Grimsby moving in the right direction.
So in the end it was probably a satisfactory result with Town just failing to topple the leaders, who were happy to grab the goal in the final seconds.