Tony Thorpe's 11th goal of the season fired Luton Town to victory over Plymouth Argyle.
The master goalpoacher's 50th minute strike for the play-off hopefuls could also have condemned Plymouth to another season in Nationwide Division Two with their promotion ambitions now looking slim.
Luton, promoted behind Plymouth last season, deserved their victory with top scorer Steve Howard also missing several chances.
But Brian McGlinchey could have given the Pilgrims the lead after just seven minutes when he blazed over from eight yards after David Norris' low cross from the right.
Canadian international keeper Lars Hirschfeld, on loan from Spurs, also needed to make a fingertip save to keep out Nicky Evans' looping header in the 23rd minute.
Luton then began to boss the game with Romain Larrieu saving Howard's header and McGlinchey clearing Chris Coyne's header off the line.
Both sides could have taken the lead in the last minute of the first half.
First, Howard fired straight at Larrieu after being put clear through on goal by Thorpe's clever pass.
Then, McGlinchey's low volley went inches wide with Hirschfeld beaten.
Thorpe broke the deadlock five minutes into the second half, turning instinctively to fire past Larrieu after Ian Hillier's long throw had landed in Plymouth's six-yard box.
Larrieu saved another Howard header and Luton's top scorer nodded another chance wide after Hillier's excellent cross from the right.
Hirschfeld, the third choice at White Hart Lane behind Kasey Keller and Neil Sullivan, then displayed his shot-stopping power by turning behind a fierce Ian Stonebridge drive from 30 yards.
Plymouth sent on strikers Marino Keith and Nathan Lowndes in a bid to find an equaliser but it was to no avail against a well-drilled Luton defence.
Luton manager Joe Kinnear said afterwards: "I think we got our just rewards because of the chances we created."