Yeovil Town dug deep to cling on to three points and move to third in npower League One by beating Shrewsbury Town 2-1 at Huish Park.
James Hayter's first half penalty and Paddy Madden's stunning strike were enough to earn victory for the hosts who spent most of the second half on the back foot.
The Glovers failed to hit any attacking rhythm after the break but stood strong to finish the job and claim a vital victory in their play-off quest.
Manager Gary Johnson said: "I thought we had a really good first half. Shrewsbury came back into it early in the second half but we saw it out.
"We hadn't been doing that in the last few weeks and we saw it out today. That bodes well for the next four games.
"Then we went in and saw we were third, we knew how important it was not to lose that game. The boys dug in and got a result. It was a fantastic result and I'm buzzing with how the lads dug in."
With Jamie McAllister still missing with a foot injury, Johnson kept faith in the starting XI that defeated Notts County on Easter Monday.
However, they started slowly and a second minute corner should have been converted by Tom Eaves who got goal side of Byron Webster only to connect with his knee.
Four minutes later Kevin Dawson kicked at thin air, inadvertently leaving the Shrews with a three on one advantage. Marvin Morgan crossed for Jon Taylor,whose fractionally heavy touch allowed Marek Stech to close the angle and block brilliantly.
Despite being second best for the opening exchanges, the Glovers forged ahead on 11 minutes. Morgan was harshly penalised for handling a corner and Hayter sent former Yeovil favourite Chris Weale the wrong way from the spot.
Ten minutes later Shrewsbury were level, catching the home team on the hop. Joe Jacobson was given too much time and space to cross from the left and even though his delivery was headed away, Steve McGinn left Stech rooted to the spot from 20 yards.
Weale's reflex save denied an offside Hayter on 26 minutes before the striker teed up Dawson four minutes later only for the Irishman to struggle to get the ball from under his feet.
On 32 minutes Hayter again proved creator, laying off for Madden who somehow managed to dance past his marker with dazzling footwork on a rutted pitch, unleashing a fierce long range drive that gave Weale no chance.
League One's top scorer looked set to double his tally after 38 minutes but an ugly unpunished hack from a defender left Madden not only hobbling after the game but without a second goal.
As the Glovers failed to build on their position after the break, Shrewsbury poured forward. After his team had wasted two wide free kicks, Matt Richards sent Stech scurrying to his right on 51 minutes, allowed to break to the edge of the area and shoot.
The Shrews skipper was then inches away from Eaves' teasing centre and Luke Ayling's weak back pass almost released Morgan.
On 66 minutes Angelo Balanta stood up substitute Rob Purdie, dropped his shoulder and used his pace and power to beat the full back, his effort parried by Weale into the side-netting.
With Shrewsbury seeking a second equaliser and the Glovers unable to get out of their own half, chances became few and far between.
Stech ended the last meaningful move of the game, saving well from McGin when the home defence were slow to push up from a corner, allowing Shrewsbury to pass their way back into the final third. MATCH STATS
Yeovil Town (4-4-2) - Stech; Ayling, Webster, Burn, Edwards; Dawson (Foley, 72), Dolan (Williams, 79), Upson, Balanta; Hayter (Hinds, 90+2), Madden. Unused subs: Stewart, Maksimenko, Ralph, Gordon.
Goals: Hayter (pen) 11, Madden 32.
Bookings: None.
Shrewsbury Town (4-4-2) - Weale; Hurst (Purdie, 46), Mambo, Goldson, Jacobson; Taylor, McGinn, Summerfield, Richards; Eaves, Morgan (Asante, 71). Unused subs: Anyon, Grandison, Parry, McAllister, Wildig.
Goals: McGinn 20.
Bookings: None.
Att: 4,473.
Ref: Oliver Langford (West Midlands).YEOVIL TOWN 2-1 SHREWSBURY TOWN - IN PICTURESPhotos: Yeovil Town 2-1 Shrewsbury Town - match actionPhotos: Yeovil Town 2-1 Shrewsbury Town - crowd pictures
