Burton Albion sealed promotion to League One for the first time in the club's history by beating Morecambe 2-1 thanks to a brace from Lucas Akins.
Albion's promotion was confirmed after Wycombe Wanderers's draw with AFC Wimbledon means that only Bury and Shrewsbury Town can catch the league leaders.
The Shrews will have to wait another week until they can confirm their promotion, after Bury beat Portsmouth 1-0 away from home.
At the start of the day, Shrewsbury required three points, a Bury loss and a draw or loss for Southend United to confirmed their status in the next tier.
However, Ryan Lowe's strike on the stroke of half time saw Bury stay in the hunt for a place in the top three, while scuppering today's promotion plans for Micky Mellon's side.
Shrewsbury remain two points behind the league leaders, as Mark Ellis's 12th-minute goal sealed all three points in their 1-0 victory over York City.
Tranmere Rovers stay rooted to the bottom of League Two after a brace from Kemar Roofe and a goal from Danny Rose earned Oxford United all three points at Prenton Park.
Cheltenham Town also failed to get themselves out of the relegation zone as Marc Richards netted his 18th goal of the season in Northampton Town's 1-0 win.
Hartlepool United are still a point above the Robins in the table, despite being thumped 3-0 away to Luton Town.
Ten-man Accrington Stanley had to settle for a point as Stevenage scored a late equaliser to make it 2-2. The hosts played 88 minutes of the game without Nicky Hunt, who was sent off minutes into the game for violent conduct.
Dagenham & Redbridge produced a late second-half display to beat playoff-chasing Newport County 3-2, with goals from Alex Jakubiak, Christian Doidge and Ashley Hemmings all coming in the last 12 minutes of the game.
Wimbledon held third-placed Wycombe to a goalless draw, while Bury's victory puts the Shakers two points behind Wanderers, who also have a game in hand.
Southend maintained their push for a playoff place as Michael Timlin scored a 92nd-minute winner against Exeter City.
Goals from Billy Paynter and Gary Dicker saw Carlisle United overcome Plymouth Argyle, who are also placed in the playoff bracket.
Sullay Kaikai's brace helped Cambridge United secure a 3-1 victory over Mansfield Town, putting them 18th in the table.
Results in full (half-time scores in brackets): Accrington Stanley 2-2 Stevenage (2-1), AFC Wimbledon 0-0 Wycombe Wanders (0-0), Cambridge United 3-1 Mansfield Town (2-0), Carlisle United 2-0 Plymouth Argyle (1-0), Exeter City 0-1 Southend United (0-0), Luton Town 3-0 Hartlepool United (2-0), Morecambe 1-2 Burton Albion (0-1), Newport County 2-3 Dagenham & Redbridge (0-0), Northampton Town 2-0 Cheltenham Town (0-0), Portsmouth 0-1 Bury (0-1), Shrewsbury Town 1-0 York City (1-0), Tranmere Rovers 0-3 Oxford United (0-0).
Sam McEvoy
