Preston 1 Shrewsbury 2
Matt Richards converted a last-minute penalty as Shrewsbury Town registered only their second away win of the campaign.
Earlier Jon Taylor's thunderous strike cancelled out an equally eye-catching opener from Stuart Beavon.
North End, without a win at Deepdale since September 29, were marginally the better of two poor teams in the first 45.
And Beavon handed the Lancastrians the lead a minute before the interval when he let fly from 30 yards and the ball flew into the far corner past Chris Weale.
Paul Parry was introduced at the re-start and it was the former Welsh international's handiwork which set up Taylor for a hammer of a strike right-footed between North End keeper Thorsten Stuckmann and the post for the equaliser (64).
Cameron Gayle's goalline clearance from Graham Cummins helped preserved parity before skipper Richards sent Stuckmann the wrong way from the spot after Marvin Morgan was felled by Ben Davies in the box.