Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink's Burton Albion side reclaimed their position at the top of League Two thanks to Adam McGurk's second-half goal, but they had to work hard to beat a resilient Wycombe Wanderers side at the Pirelli Stadium.
Shrewsbury Town had temporarily moved into first place with a 1-0 win over Mansfield Town in one of the day's early kickoffs, but the Brewers overtook their title rivals with a determined display.
Fourth-placed Bury squandered their chance to close the gap on the top three as late goals from Padraig Amond and Jamie Devitt turned defeat into victory for Morecambe at the JD Stadium and ended the Shakers run of four straight league wins.
Southend United moved to within a point of Bury as a goal from Will Atkinson gave them a 1-0 win at Victoria Park that brought to an end Hartlepool United's five-game unbeaten run.
Ronnie Moore's side stay out of the relegation zone, however, as Tranmere Rovers lost 1-0 against Luton Town thanks to Cameron McGeehan's late strike, while a penalty from Stevenage's Ben Kennedy 13 minutes from time also ensured that Cheltenham Town remain bottom of the league.
There were goals galore at Victoria Road as a Jamie Cureton hat-trick and an effort from Scott Doe gave Dagenham & Redbridge a comfortable 4-0 win against AFC Wimbledon, and Accrington Stanley's clash with Carlisle United was another high-scoring affair, with goals from Piero Mingoia, Josh Windass and Seamus Conneely giving John Coleman's team their first win in nine games.
Ryan Taylor's 10th goal of the season wrapped up a first win in five for Portsmouth against Plymouth Argyle, while Cambridge United moved away from danger with a 1-0 win over Northampton Town that came courtesy of Harrison Dunk's first-minute strike.
Elsewhere, York City were the only other side in the bottom six to gain points as they held Oxford United to a goalless draw at Bootham Crescent, while Exeter City beat Newport County 2-0 in the day's other early game.
Results in full: Accrington Stanley 3-1 Carlisle United, Burton Albion 1-0 Wycombe Wanderers, Bury 1-2 Morecambe, Cheltenham Town 0-1 Stevenage, Dagenham & Redbridge 4-0 AFC Wimbledon, Hartlepool United 0-1 Southend United, Northampton Town 0-1 Cambridge United, Oxford United 0-0 York City, Portsmouth 2-1 Plymouth Argyle, Tranmere Rovers 0-1 Luton Town.
Joe Sharratt
