Promoted Hartlepool ended their home season by setting up a dramatic title decider at leaders Rushden next weekend with a 3-0 win over Shrewsbury.
After leading for most of the campaign, the North Easterners will go to Nene Park desperate to lift the trophy.
They brushed bottom club Shrewsbury aside with ease in a one-sided game that might have had more goals for the home team.
Veteran striker Gordon Watson, who hit the Town bar after only five minutes, led the attack well and Hartlepool spent most of the game peppering the Town goal from all angles.
They had to wait until the 35th minute to take the lead, top scorer Eifion Williams finishing off a tremendous four-man move with a tidy close-range finish.
On the stroke of half-time Shrewsbury's troubles doubled when they failed to pick up Mark Tinkler as he rose to head a corner from midfield partner Ritchie Humphreys into the net from ten yards.
The second half was a more even affair as Shrewsbury battled to get back into the game.
But they made next to no impression on the home defence, and disaster struck for them on 72 minutes when sub Ian Woan, who had gone on after half-time, was sent off - a straight red card for a nasty challenge on Humphreys.
Six minutes later it was all over when Watson fed substitute Kevin Henderson and his shot from the left of the area whistled into the far corner, despite another brave attempt to save by Ian Dunbavin.
Hartlepool boss Mike Newell said: "It's all set up for a decider at Rushden on the last day of the season, and the pressure is on them.
"We are back in form and we are determined to end the season well. This was a good perrormance and a good win after a few hiccups lately." Shrewsbury boss Kevin Ratcliffe admitted: "The league table doesn't lie, and we are bottom.
"We lost our concentration at bad times, and we paid the penalty. Now we know what we have to do - win two games next week and hope others results go our way."