They now have 61 points, one less than Hull City who fought back to draw 1-1 at Carlisle, with Stuart Green getting the equaliser 8 minutes from time.
Oxford didn't capitalise on the Tigers' slip-up though, going down 1-0 at Yeovil to Andy Bishop's first half goal.
Mansfield are three points behind the U's after yesterday's win at York and have a game in hand. Goals in either half by Liam Lawrence and Richard Pacquette gave them the lead, and Lee Nogan's long-range strike proved to be nothing more than a consolation for City in a 2-1 finish.
Torquay and Huddersfield swapped places in 6th and 7th after meeting at Plainmoor. Nathan Clarke headed the only goal of the game in the 71st minute to earn the Terriers three points.
Lincoln could have taken Torquay's place in the top seven but for a late Scunthorpe equaliser in the Lincolnshire derby. Peter Gain's 35th minute goal had the Imps on course for victory, but Cleveland Taylor levelled with 8 minutes to go.
At the bottom of the table, Carlisle's efforts against the league leaders doesn't see them any closer to survival as both Darlington and Southend were on the winning ends of 3-0 scorelines. Macclesfield drop into the bottom two on goal difference, although there's only three points separating them and 17th-placed Rochdale.
Saturday 14th February 2004
Bristol Rovers 0-3 Darlington (attendance: 6,011)
Bury 1-0 Cambridge United (attendance: 2,322)
Carlisle United 1-1 Hull City (attendance: 7,176)
Cheltenham Town 1-0 Boston United (attendance: 3,434)
Doncaster Rovers 1-0 Macclesfield Town (attendance: 5,525)
Lincoln City 1-1 Scunthorpe United (attendance: 5,324)
Northampton Town 3-1 Rochdale (attendance: 4,540)
Southend United 3-0 Kidderminster Harriers (attendance: 3,716)
Torquay United 0-1 Huddersfield Town (attendance: 3,821)
Yeovil Town 1-0 Oxford United (attendance: 7,404)
York City 1-2 Mansfield Town (attendance: 4,068)
Wednesday 11th February 2004
Oxford United 3-2 Scunthorpe United (attendance: 5,118)
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