In contract, the Red Dragons boosted their own survival hopes with a precious victory.
The Welsh side, hovering just above the drop zone, secured victory with a Michael Proctor strike 11 minutes from time which ultimately settled this scrappy and often untidy derby clash.
For the Gay Meadow side, victory was required to lift them into fifth place, but Wrexham were equally desperate for points to put further light between themselves and the relegation zone so it was hardly a surprise when the opening stages were tense and frantic.
Unfortunately, there was little improvement as the first half unfolded and while midfielder Stewart Drummond and livewire striker Derek Asamoah went closest to a breakthrough for Shrewsbury, at the other end there was nothing to seriously trouble Shrews goalkeeper Scott Shearer.
After the break, Wrexham finally mustered an effort on goal when Chris Llewellyn headed over a Simon Spender free-kick, but as time slipped away, it appeared increasingly unlikely that either side would break the deadlock and a draw seemed the most likely outcome.
But that all changed dramatically with 11 minutes left.
Spender found himself with time and space in the Shrewsbury penalty area and from the right his cross found Proctor, who lashed the ball home from ten yards to the obvious delight of the massed Wrexham hoards behind the goal.