Exeter City 0 Cheltenham Town 1
Russ Penn's early winner means Cheltenham Town's top three chase will run until the final day of the season.
The skipper netted his first League Two goal of the campaign in the fifth minute to sink Exeter City at St James Park, ending the home side's play-off bid at the same time.
Rotherham United's victory over Plymouth Argyle means the Robins' automatic promotion hopes are not in their own hands heading into next Saturday's home match against Bradford City.
But if Cheltenham beat the Bantams and Rotherham slip up against Aldershot Town, Mark Yates' side will snatch a League One place without having to go through the drama of the play-offs for a second season in succession.
More than 800 travelling fans did not have to wait long for something to celebrate in the Devon sunshine as Penn scored with a low left-footed effort which rolled beyond the reach of Artur Krysiak.
He ran straight to manager Mark Yates, who had told him he would score, to celebrate on the touchline.
Veteran Exeter front runner Jamie Cureton then showed his threat with some excellent movement which unsettled the Robins' backline.
He and ex-Robins loan player Lawson D'Ath both shooting narrowly wide of Scott Brown's goal in quick succession.
Cureton beat Michael Hector to the ball and set up Jamie Reid for another chance in the 16th minute, but his shot was also off target.
A quickly-taken free-kick found Cureton, who raced away of Steve Elliott, but his finish was wayward in the 19th minute and Cheltenham got to grips with him thereafter.
Byron Harrison lifted the ball over Krysiak, but saw his shot cleared off the line by Jordan Moore-Taylor in the 25th minute.
Kaid Mohamed had an opening but his shot was weak and easy for the goalkeeper before Harrison worked his way into another good position before making a mess of his shot.
The second half was more comfortable for Cheltenham, who were rarely troubled.
Sam Deering went on for Jason Taylor in a bid to freshen things up and Darryl Duffy also joined the action in place of Harrison, who tired late on after another big effort up front on his own.
Brown was called upon to makee one superb save to deny substitute Jimmy Keohane late on as Cheltenham registered their eighth consecutive win over the Grecians.
It ended a run of six games on the road without a win and it will all boil down to next Saturday's events.
EXETER CITY: A Krysiak; S Tully (J Keohane 73), D Coles, J Moore-Taylor C Woodman; L D'Ath, A Davies, T Doherty; J Reid (S Bennett 68), J Cureton, A Gow (G Bauza 78). Subs not used: R Evans, A Dawson, E Chamberlain, J Gosling.
CHELTENHAM TOWN: S Brown; S Jombati, M Hector, S Elliott, B Jones; J McGlashan, M Pack, R Penn, J Taylor (S Deering 64), K Mohamed; B Harrison (D Duffy 82). Subs not used: C Roberts, K Lowe, D Carter, S Harrad, J Deaman.
REFEREE: D Whitestone.
ATTENDANCE: 5,247 (841 away).
STAR MAN: Russ Penn.
To re-live the action as it unfolded at St James Park, click below:
