Cheltenham Town shared the points at Rochdale for the third year running although this was by far the most eventful of the three games.
Table-topping Rochdale, who are unbeaten at home this season, hit back from a goal down to lead 2-1 despite being reduced to ten men with over half an hour to go.
Cheltenham had looked comfortable with a 1-0 lead but their defending had to be questioned for both the Rochdale goals.
Jamie Victory scored his second goal of the evening in controversial circumstances, the assistant referee signalling a goal after the ball had been cleared off the line, and either side could have won it during a frantic last ten minutes.
Cheltenham fielded the same starting 11 that beat Exeter City 3-1 on Saturday, the only change to the 16-man squad being the inclusion of Neil Grayson on the substitutes bench following his three match suspension.
The Robins made a dream start by scoring a goal after only six minutes.
Cheltenham made a high-tempo start to the encounter and forced Rochdale to concede a rash of free-kicks in their own half. From one such set piece Russell Milton delivered the ball left-footed into the penalty area, Michael Duff headed it towards goal and Victory made a run to the far post where he smashed in a shot from close range.
Rochdale were almost gifted an equaliser 15 minutes later when Chris Banks attempted a square pass to Michael Duff half-way inside the Cheltenham half. Tall striker Clive Platt, who proved a handful for the Robins defence all evening, won the ball and sent on-loan striker Paul Wheatcroft clear. The Bolton Wanderers man rounded Steve Book but could not keep his balance with an open goal begging and the chance was lost.
Three minutes later it was Rochdale's turn to have a nervous moment at the back when American goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemman, currently on loan from Fulham, mis-kicked a routine clearance leaving Tony Naylor with a shot at goal. Hahnemann recovered to block both Naylor's shot and the follow-up, although he was rather fortunate on both occasions.
Mark Yates headed a Russell Milton corner kick over the crossbar and Wheatcroft curled a left-foot shot high as the teams remained well matched heading into the half-time break.
Yet another defensive error almost let Cheltenham in for a goal five minutes into the second half when this time Gareth Griffiths lost the ball to Lee Howells' leaving the Robins with a three-on-one break. Howells played in Mark Yates but his low drive was blocked by Hahnemann.
Cheltenham were made to regret that missed opportunity as Book, on the same ground where he made a costly mistake last season, was in error again as Rochdale grabbed an equalising goal with their first on-target shot of the match. Midfielder Gary Jones lofted a high ball into the penalty area and Book missed the ball as a he rushed out to punch to leave Wheatcroft with an open goal.
It had been an eventful night for Wheatcroft, who had been booked early on for a foul on Victory, and the game ended for him just three minutes after his goal when the referee brandished a second yellow card then a red following a late challenge on Duff.
The game threatened to boil over again when Julian Alsop and Michael Oliver were both booked following a midfield fracas, referee Jones raising the ire of the home fans with a series of decisions they didn't agree with, but the direction of the game changed again with 18 minutes left.
Russell Milton sent a sharp volley just wide from a Lee Williams cross, but Rochdale went straight up-field from the goal-kick and scored with a bright piece of opportunism from teenage striker Kevin Townson.
The substitute darted in to steal the ball off Chris Banks' toes as Book rushed out of his goal. Book got a hand to the ball but his momentum took him beyond it and Townson was left with an open net.
Cheltenham manager Steve Cotterill sent on Grayson and Martin Devaney for Williams and Naylor and the pair played a big part in bringing the Robins level again six minutes from time.
Devaney streaked down the left and crossed for Grayson, whose volley was brilliantly turned aside by Hahnemann. The resulting corner was delivered by Milton for Victory to meet with a firm header, defender Sean McAuley headed the ball clear but the assistant referee signalled that the ball had already crossed the line.
Book made amends for his earlier mistake with a superb save from a close range Oliver header but Alsop almost won it for Cheltenham with a late header but was just unable to direct the ball over Hahnemann.
The result and Darlington's defeat at Swansea lifted the Robins up to seventh place in the table, their highest position of the season to date.
ROCHDALE: Hahnemann; Evans, Griffiths, Jobson, McAuley; Ford (Flitcroft 63), Oliver, Jones, Doughty (Townson 63); Platt, Wheatcroft. Subs: Gilks, Bayliss, Durkan.
CHELTENHAM TOWN: Book; Howarth, M. Duff, Banks, Victory; Williams (Devaney 76), Yates, Howells, Milton; Alsop, Naylor (Grayson 76). Subs: Brough, McAuley, Muggleton.
REFEREE: M.J. Jones (Cheshire)
ATTENDANCE: 3,279