Tranmere scored two penalties to beat promotion rivals Exeter 2-1 in a fiery contest at Prenton Park.
David Nugent and substitute Danny Lloyd scored either side of Joel Randall's equaliser to give Keith Hill's men a crucial win.
Rovers should have led on 13 minutes when Liam Feeney's pinpoint cross picked out Kaiyne Woolery who headed a glorious chance wide.
Minutes later the hosts did lead when Peter Clarke was needlessly bundled over by Rory McArdle, allowing veteran Nugent the chance to blast his spot-kick high to Jokull Andresson's left.
The lead lasted just two minutes as Tranmere were split wide open by Matt Jay's through ball and Randall scampered clear to convert low past Scott Davies. The Exeter man pulled a hamstring in the act of shooting and was stretchered off.
The Grecians looked the more likely winners after the break until Lewis Page was adjudged to have handled Otis Khan's cross and Lloyd sent Andresson the wrong way from the spot.
Match report supplied by PA Media.
Line-ups
Tranmere
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Davies
- 17Khan
- 26Clarke
- 21RaySubstituted forMontheat 42'minutes
- 18MacDonald
- 2O'Connor
- 8Spearing
- 7MorrisSubstituted forLewisat 57'minutesBooked at 74mins
- 19Feeney
- 14WoolerySubstituted forRidehalghat 85'minutes
- 28NugentSubstituted forLloyd-McGoldrickat 57'minutes
Substitutes
- 3Ridehalgh
- 6Monthe
- 13Murphy
- 15Crawford
- 16Kirby
- 22Lewis
- 35Lloyd-McGoldrick
Exeter
Formation 4-4-1-1
- 24Andrésson
- 30Key
- 6McArdleSubstituted forCapriceat 90'minutes
- 34Hartridge
- 20Page
- 16Willmott
- 8TaylorSubstituted forAtanganaat 90'minutes
- 10Collins
- 14RandallSubstituted forSparkesat 23'minutes
- 17JaySubstituted forSeymourat 72'minutes
- 12Bowman
Substitutes
- 2Caprice
- 3Sparkes
- 4Atangana
- 9Seymour
- 15Parkes
- 22Lee
- 26Sweeney
Live Text
Match ends, Tranmere Rovers 2, Exeter City 1.
Second Half ends, Tranmere Rovers 2, Exeter City 1.
Foul by Archie Collins (Exeter City).
Danny Lloyd (Tranmere Rovers) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Attempt blocked. Lewis Page (Exeter City) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Ben Seymour.
Lewis Page (Exeter City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Danny Lloyd (Tranmere Rovers).
Attempt saved. Archie Collins (Exeter City) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Robbie Willmott.
Lewis Page (Exeter City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Paul Lewis (Tranmere Rovers).
Foul by Lewis Page (Exeter City).
Paul Lewis (Tranmere Rovers) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Offside, Exeter City. Joshua Key tries a through ball, but Robbie Willmott is caught offside.
Substitution, Exeter City. Nigel Atangana replaces Jake Taylor.
Substitution, Exeter City. Jake Caprice replaces Rory McArdle.
Attempt blocked. Joshua Key (Exeter City) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Robbie Willmott.
Hand ball by Peter Clarke (Tranmere Rovers).
Substitution, Tranmere Rovers. Liam Ridehalgh replaces Kaiyne Woolery.
Lewis Page (Exeter City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Kaiyne Woolery (Tranmere Rovers).