Port Vale put themselves back in the play-off frame with a high octane 3-3 draw against fellow high-flyers Swindon Town.
After a shaky start, Vale stamped their authority on the game in the 14th minute when Steve McPhee knocked down a right-sided cross by Mark Bridge-Wilkinson for Billy Paynter to hammer the ball past Rhys Evans with a left-footed strike.
McPhee came close to adding a second ten minutes later when he exchanged passes with Steve Brooker to create room on the edge of the box, enabling him to shoot from range, but Evans stood up well with a solid save.
The Valiants did manage to double their lead four minutes before the break when McPhee broke forward, parting the Swindon defence with the help of Brooker and Paynter, finally ending in a skilful chip over Evans from ten yards.
Swindon exploded out of the blocks for the second half but Vale went further ahead through McPhee again when among calls for handball, referee Eddie Ilderton played the advantage allowing him to run through under pressure and slip the ball into the keeper's bottom right corner.
The Robins got the goal they deserved in the 63rd minute when David Duke supplied a first-class cross from the left for Sam Parkin in the centre, who rose well and headed into Jonathan Brain's top right to grab his 17th goal of the season.
Swindon piled on the pressure and lessened the deficit once more five minutes later with Matt Hewlett lashing home a volley from close range, but it was substitute Rory Fallon who netted an equaliser in the 84th minute when he tapped home a Parkin cross.
Port Vale manager Martin Foyle said: "I'm very disappointed, especially after having a 3-0 lead, but we've got to give credit to Swindon as we just couldn't handle their experience up front.
"We've coped really well with the small squad that we have, but I just hope that we don't falter at the last stage."