A second-half strike from Steve Flack was enough to give Exeter a vital victory against high-flying Wrexham.
Exeter were forced to soak up a large amount of pressure as the visitors dominated the first half.
But a spirited performance after the break was rewarded when Flack scored the only goal of the game in the 72nd minute.
Exeter had the first opportunity when Andy Roscoe's low cross found Sean Devine inside the box but the striker scuffed his shot into the arms of the goalkeeper.
Wrexham passed the ball crisply and Andy Morrell headed a Steve Thomas cross over the bar.
The visitors again went close when Thomas found Lee Jones inside the box and his neat shot forced a fine save from Kevin Miller.
Wrexham enjoyed most of the first-half possession. Thomas curled a free kick just over the bar midway through the half as the visitors pressed, and Steve Roberts headed Darren Ferguson's free kick narrowly wide.
Exeter had few opportunities but Devine forced Andy Dibble to make a fine save with a powerful strike from a tight angle.
After the break Jones thumped a long-range shot into the arms of Miller for Wrexham and at the other end Roscoe forced Dibble to tip the ball over the bar with a long-range strike.
James Coppinger struck a post for Exeter with a close-range shot just after the hour mark after controlling Roscoe's cross.
Flack broke the deadlock in the 72nd minute. Graeme Power's angled cross was helped on by Carl Pettefer and Flack thumped the ball home from eight yards.
In the closing stages Flack again went close when he ran on to a long ball and struck a shot narrowly wide.
Despite a late rally there was no way back for the visitors.
Wrexham boss Denis Smith said after the match: "You can make all the excuses about long journeys that you want but you need to show passion in football and we didn't show any."