Scunthorpe United move top of League Two, despite being held to a 2-2 draw at Glanford Park by Bury.
Paul Hayes looked to have given the Iron three points when he missed a penalty, but tucked home the rebound. However, Danny Rose scored in stoppage time to earn the visitors a share of the spoils.
Chesterfield fell behind to a Luke James goal at Hartlepool United, but strikes from Liam Cooper and Eoin Doyle either side of half time ensured that the Spireites were victorious and stay in the top three.
Fleetwood Town lost ground on the automatic promotion spots after they drew with lowly Morecambe and needed a late Iain Hume goal to give them a point.
Oxford United moved into the playoff places with a 2-0 win at Plymouth Argyle, who had Maxime Blanchard sent off for a second bookable offence just after the break.
The U's now draw level on points with Southend United, after the Essex club fell to defeat at home to AFC Wimbledon, with Jack Midson scoring the only goal of the game from the penalty spot.
York City's hopes of a playoff place were dented when Shay McCartan's 90th-minute goal gave Accrington Stanley a point.
Wycombe Wanderers were beaten by Newport County at Rodney Parade, with two goals in five minutes from Christian Jolley and Chris Zebroski giving the Welsh club all three points.
The result means that Wycombe are just above the drop zone on goal difference on the same points as Northampton Town, who narrowly beat Burton Albion at Sixfields Stadium.
Exeter City's own survival hopes were boosted by a 1-1 draw at home to Cheltenham Town, with Jordan Moore-Taylor netting for the Devon club.
Portsmouth continued their late climb up the League Two table with a resounding 4-1 at Dagenham & Redbridge. Michael Drennan scored twice as Pompey moved up to 16th in the standings.
Results in full: Bristol Rovers 1-2 Torquay United, Dagenham & Redbridge 1-4 Portsmouth, Exeter 1-1 Cheltenham, Fleetwood Town 2-2 Morecambe, Hartlepool 1-2 Chesterfield, Mansfield Town 3-0 Rochdale, Newport County 2-0 Wycombe Wanderers, Northampton Town 1-0 Burton Albion, Plymouth Argyle 0-2 Oxford United, Scunthorpe United 2-2 Bury, Southend United 0-1 AFC Wimbledon, York City 1-1 Accrington Stanley