Portsmouth cemented their place in the automatic promotion places with a 4-0 away win over Colchester United.
Eoin Doyle headed Pompey into a first-half lead before Kyle Bennett, Danny Rose and Michael Doyle added further goals in the second period.
Doncaster Rovers edged closer to promotion with a routine victory at home to lowly Cheltenham Town.
The league leaders maintained their unbeaten record at the Keepmoat with goals from captain Andy Butler and top scorer John Marquis.
Two goals in five second-half minutes saw Plymouth Argyle overcome Mansfield Town at Field Mill.
Graham Carey’s free kick was flicked home by Sonny Bradley before the Irishman clinched the game directly from a set piece.
Medy Elito’s second-half hat-trick condemned Carlisle United to a fourth straight defeat as Cambridge United won at Brunton Park.
The Cumbrians’ hopes of a top three finish took another hit as Elito scored twice from the spot before adding a third in stoppage time.
Joss Labadie kept alive Newport County’s slim chances of survival with a last-gasp winner over Crewe Alexandra.
Caretaker Exiles boss Mike Flynn’s had to come from behind to win and remain nine points from safety.
Hartlepool United are the team they have to catch and the Monkey Hangers fell to a 2-1 defeat to Notts County.
A Jorge Grant screamer and Shola Ameobi’s first for the Magpies ensured the Nottingham club kept their unbeaten sequence under Kevin Nolan at Meadow Lane intact and leave Hartlepool looking nervously over their shoulder.
Second from bottom Leyton Orient suffered a miserable 3-0 loss to Grimsby Town and remain six points from safety.
It was a comfortable afternoon for Grimsby who recorded their seventh away league win of the campaign at Brisbane Road.
Promotion-hopefuls Luton Town went down 2-0 at home to local rivals Stevenage.
Luke Wilkinson opened the scoring with an early header before Ben Kennedy confirmed three points for Boro five minutes from time.
Jamal Campbell-Ryce notched in the 88th minute as Barnet earned a point at home to Crawley Town.
Elsewhere, Accrington Stanley won 2-0 away at Exeter City while Wycombe Wanderers and Blackpool ended goalless.