Goals from Paul Gallagher, Daniel Johnson and Chris Humphrey took second-placed Preston North End to a 3-0 victory over Bradford City, which inched them closer to automatic promotion.
The Bantams were reduced to 10 men after just 14 minutes when Christopher Routis was caught out by a long ball and was dismissed for tangling with Lilywhites striker Joe Garner.Leicester City loanee Gallagher put the visitors ahead with his 13th goal of the season early in the second-half, rifling in a rebound after goalkeeper Ben Williams had saved his initial penalty. Johnson drilled in a second six minutes later and Humphrey rounded it off with a deflected effort as North End made sure they can finish no lower than the Play-Offs this term.
Crawley Town's fourth win in six games moved them out of the bottom four as they defeated Oldham Athletic 2-0.
Dean Saunders' side leapt above Notts County, Crewe Alexandra and Leyton Orient thanks to first-half strikes from Izale McLeod and Richard Wood against a Latics side who remain in the middle of the League 1 pack.
Josh Wright's 85th-minute equaliser kept Leyton Orient out of the relegation zone as they drew 3-3 with Gillingham.
The O's had led through Lloyd James' penalty but Jermaine McGlashan's leveller was added to by a Cody McDonald brace to put the visitors 3-1 ahead.
However, Darius Henderson pulled one back and Wright's late contribution kept the Orient in 20th place on goal difference.
Tendayi Darikwa's first-half effort was enough to give Chesterfield a 1-0 triumph over Crewe which moved the sixth-placed Spireites four-points clear in the final Play-Off spot, while the Alex dropped into the bottom four positions.
Notts County slipped to 22nd following a 0-0 draw with Coventry City, which does little for either side's respective survival aspirations.
The Magpies are now just one point above Colchester United after they came from behind to inflict a second loss on Barnsley in three days.
Lee Johnson had not suffered defeat at the Oakwell helm before Saturday and the Tykes looked like bouncing back from the defeat to Sheffield United when George Waring broke the deadlock.
However, goals from Gavin Massey, Jacob Murphy and George Moncur gave the U's a 3-1 triumph and their third win in four games.
David Ball's first-half brace set Fleetwood Town on their way to a 4-0 win over bottom-of-the-table Yeovil Town which keeps the Play-Off spots in their sights.
The Cod Army are seeking a remarkable seventh promotion in 11 seasons and they sprinted out to a three-goal lead inside 32 minutes against the struggling Glovers as Ball's double was added to by a goal from strike-partner Jamie Proctor.
Teenager Ash Hunter rounded off the rout with his first Football League goal in the second period.
Elsewhere, Peterborough United and Walsall played out a 0-0 draw and Calvin Andrew's header in the fifth minute of stoppage time gave Rochdale a 1-0 win over Port Vale at Spotland.