Notts County 1 - 0 Rochdale
Notts County took a huge step towards sealing the League Two title with a deserved victory against second-placed Rochdale at Meadow Lane.
Both teams clinched automatic promotion on Saturday but Tuesday's result means that County are now four points clear of their rivals with a game in hand.
County have won 12 and drawn two since the appointment of Steve Cotterill as manager to climb above stuttering Dale at the top of the table.
And the home team undoubtedly created the better chances against Keith Hill's team, with the peerless Lee Hughes scoring the only goal with a shot from the edge of the box that Dale keeper Frank Fielding could not quite palm around the post.
Fielding did make several good saves, denying Graeme Lee, Delroy Facey and Hughes, while Neal Bishop struck the woodwork.
Dale boss Hill had ensured there would be plenty of spice to the contest with pre-match comments about their opponents' spending that drew a response from County chairman Ray Trew.
But on the evening Rochdale, with just one goal in their previous five games, struggled to break down their well-organised opponents.
Dale substitute Andy Howarth did come close to an equaliser but his thunderous 30-yard strike hit the crossbar.
Hill's side started the match confidently and at times played the brand of attractive football that has largely characterised their season but apart from Howarth's effort they failed to seriously threaten Kasper Schmeichel's goal.
Gary Jones shot wide from outside the box, while Jason Taylor missed with a difficult header and later saw a powerful shot blocked.
Notts were defensively well organised throughout and more direct in their approach, with the menacing Hughes their primary target.
Hughes had the ball in the net after 13 minutes but his effort was ruled out for offside. However, there was no reprieve for Dale after a horrendous mix-up gifted an opening that the striker gratefully accepted with a precise strike.
The mistake came after Chris O'Grady and Taylor each waited for the other to collect the ball, allowing the alert Bishop to nip in and play Hughes through on goal.
Lee might have scored for County prior to Hughes's goal with a 14-yard strike that Fielding superbly saved low to his left, while shortly before the break Ben Davies ended a mazy run with shot that narrowly missed the target.
County continued to threaten after play resumed, with Ricky Ravenhill inches wide, Bishop striking the woodwork from the edge of the box and Facey forcing another good stop from Fielding.
But just minutes after coming off the bench, Howarth almost ended a mazy run with a sensational goal. Schmeichel was well beaten but the crossbar came to his rescue.
The irrepressible Hughes later turned a Dale defender and drew another good save from Fielding with a shot across goal - and there was no doubt that County seemed most likely to score again.
O'Grady might have scored an injury-time equaliser but his snatched effort missed the target.
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Southampton 0 - 0 Oldham
Southampton's hopes of a swift return to the Championship ended as battling Oldham held out for a goalless draw.
Rickie Lambert's tame 30-yard free-kick was the closest either side came in a drab first half at St Mary's.
Adam Lallana had the first genuine chance in the second half but his strike at goal was blocked by a fine last-ditch challenge by Alex Marrow.
Oldham's Tom Eaves was denied by Kelvin Davies while home substitute Papa Waigo missed an open goal late on.
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