A Phil Bolland goal a minute from time gave Chester City the points in a full-blooded encounter at the Deva Stadium.
The central defender ghosted in past a static visiting defence to volley home from Kevin McIntyre's left-wing free-kick and silence the large travelling faithful.
The game had looked to have been heading for a draw after Shrewsbury had levelled matters seven minutes into the second half, and nine yellow cards gave a measure of the type of encounter this was.
Chester should have taken the lead after only six minutes when new signing Darryn Stamp was sent clear, but the striker could only lob the ball wide of the goal.
However, the tall forward redeemed himself on 23 minutes with a bullet header into the top corner from Jon Brady's cross.
The goal gave Chester added impetus and they continued to put pressure on the Shrews defence with Ian Foster, Ben Davies and Brady all going close to extending the lead.
There was no let-up in the second half as both sides went at each other with relish, and the visitors pulled level on 52 minutes as Sam Aiston cut through the heart of the Chester midfield to set up Jamie Tolley, who sidefooted past Wayne Brown.
Striker Stamp had a chance from a difficult angle 20 minutes from time, but embarrassingly sliced his effort wide, while Danny Collins' downward header went just past the post.
It was left to Bolland to have the last word with a decisive late strike to condemn the Blues' local rivals to their first defeat of the season.