Chesterfield have conceded precious ground in their bid to win the League Two championship after a surprising 3-1 defeat to relegation-threatened Accrington Stanley.
The Lancashire club shocked the Spireites with a first-half blitz, with all three goals coming from Lee Molyneux, and despite Ian Evatt's close-range effort, the damage had been done.
Victory for James Beattie's side moves them six points clear of the League Two drop zone, while the Derbyshire outfit are now just a point in front of Scunthorpe United, who claimed a 1-1 draw against strugglers Northampton Town today.
Burton Albion inched ever closer to the automatic promotion places after recording a 2-1 win away at Oxford United, thanks to goals from Dominic Knowles and Zeli Ismail, while Fleetwood Town defeated Torquay United 1-0 to keep the Cod Army hot on the Brewers' heels in fifth place.
Meanwhile, York City recorded a 1-0 win away at AFC Wimbledon, a result which saw the Minstermen creep closer to the playoff spots, Bristol Rovers defeated Plymouth Argyle 2-1 to harm the Pilgrims' top-seven ambitions, Exeter City reached 40 points with a 2-2 draw at home to Dagenham & Redbridge, and Mansfield Town defeated Newport County 2-1 to edge away from the drop zone.
In other results, Morecambe beat Southend United 2-1, Portsmouth eked out a 0-0 stalemate with Cheltenham Town and Wycombe Wanderers defeated Hartlepool United 2-1.
Results in full: Accrington Stanley 3-1 Chesterfield, AFC Wimbledon 0-1 York City, Bristol Rovers 2-1 Plymouth Argyle, Exeter City 2-2 Dagenham & Redbridge, Mansfield Town 2-1 Newport County, Morecambe 2-1 Southend United, Oxford United 1-2 Burton Albion, Portsmouth 0-0 Cheltenham Town, Scunthorpe United 1-1 Northampton Town, Torquay United 0-1 Fleetwood Town, Wycombe Wanderers 2-1 Hartlepool United
