Spoilsports Rushden & Diamonds chalked up their first draw of the season as they left Chris Turner's Wednesday side firing blanks.
Brian Talbot's stubborn battlers left the Owls frustrated as they held the South Yorkshire side at bay.
Wednesday, who stretched their unbeaten run to five matches, had the lion's share of possession but failed to make it count as Rushden backed off crowding the penalty area.
Grant Holt bad an early shot after Robbie Mustoe drilled in a low ball but his effort was blocked.
And Holt was unlucky to be penalised when he poked the ball away as keeper Billy Turley fumbled and was left stranded wide of goal. Adam Proudlock then saw his close-range shot blocked by Barry Hunter.
When Holt burst through again he went down under a strong challenge from Hunter but referee Mike Thorpe waved away Wednesday's penalty appeals.
But Turley produced a quality save diving low to his left to deny Proudlock his first league goal of the season.
Proudlock, who scored in the LDV Vans Trophy win over Grimsby, lashed a fierce first-time shot towards goal but Turley did well to turn it away.
Rushden's only early chance came when Rodney Jack dipped a volley just over from the edge of the box.
Holt, who was suffering after two heavy first-half knocks, was replaced at the start of the second half by loanee Michael Reddy.
Reddy impressed with some quality touches but Rushden, well organised and determined, held on.
It was Reddy who produced a difficult glancing header from a Graeme Lee cross but saw it drift over.
Proudlock created a gap himself but Turley held onto his 20-yard left footer and when Graeme Lee stabbed the ball in from a 77th minute corner it was disallowed.
Rushden might have stolen the win on the break when David Bell's deep cross went over keeper David Lucas but Jack was a fraction short of a scoring connection.