Shrewsbury promoted - Report and pictures

The result, which also saw the Robins relegated out of the Football League, means Micky Mellon's side have banished the heart-break of last season's relegation at the first attempt.

A first-half goal from Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro was enough to give Town three vital points, in front of 1,705 travelling Salopians.

Town now go into the final game of the season against Plymouth at Greenhous Meadow, hoping to overtake league leaders Burton and win the League Two crown.

Mellon made two changes from the side that secured the 1-0 win over York, with the boss freshening up his strike force by recalling top scorer James Collins and Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro.

Tyrone Barnett and Andy Mangan were the players to make way, with both forwards named on a subs bench packed with firepower that also included Scott Vernon and Mikael Mandron.

For Cheltenham, former Greenhous Meadow favourite Matt Richards started in midfield.

Following a minute silence's in tribute to the victims of the Bradford Fire, the match started at a frantic pace with Shrewsbury forcing a corner inside the opening sixty seconds.

Bobby Grant's whipped-in delivery caused havoc in the Cheltenaham box, with Akpa Akpro hitting a shot on the spin that took a deflection before being cleared.

Shrewsbury had started the game well but, in the 11th minute, Salop fans put the on-field action to one side to celebrate the life of Lloyd Burton.

The 11-year-old Town fan was once scouted by a string of clubs, including Manchester United. He was diagnosed with medulloblastoma in 2013 and passed away on Wednesday.

Salop fans commemorated the charming youngster with a minute's applause. And Town responded on the pitch with Connor Goldson heading a Grant corner inches wide.

With 1,705 travelling members of the blue and amber army behind them, Shrewsbury started to camp deep in Cheltenham territory and they took a deserved lead in the 20th minute.

A long Mark Ellis ball was brilliantly chested down by Akpa Akpro in the box, with the striker then hitting a low shot which deflected off a defender and bobbled over goalkeeper Trevor Carson.

With the home side now fighting for their Football League survival, Gary Johnson's men went in search of an equaliser and almost pulled level just before the half-hour mark.

A whipped in corner was met by Wes Burns, but the striker saw his header sail inches wide of goalkeeper Jayson Leutwiler's post.

Town were continuing to enjoy the lion's share of possession, but they were fortunate not to concede a penalty in the 40th minute.

Shaun Harrad got the wrong side of Jermaine Grandison with the defender wrapping his arms around the striker to prevent him getting a strike at goal.

But with the home supporters and bench screaming for a penalty, referee Trevor Kettle deemed the challenge a 50-50 and Leutwiler cleared.

Cheltenham were now throwing everything forward and they almost pulled level just before the break, when Mathieu Manset brilliantly played in both Harrad and Burns.

Fortunately for Town, Leutwiler was alert to the danger and came rushing off his line to clear the danger with a brilliant sliding tackle.

And the goalkeeper was again called into action in the fourth minute of stoppage time, the Swiss stopper brilliantly blocking a Burns strike from point-blank range.

With boss Mellon ringing in their ears, Town looked to regain the initiative at the start of the second half and they almost doubled their lead when Liam Lawrence headed wide from a corner.

But as things stood, the Robins were heading out of the Football League and they began lumping balls into the Town box, with Burns eventually seeing a strike from 12-yards sail over the bar.

All the momentum was now with Gary Johnson's side and they came a whisker away from pulling level, with 20 minutes remaining.

After a Connor Goldson had fouled Burns on the edge of the box, Harrad curled a wonderful free-kick inches over the crossbar.

With his side withstanding heavy pressure, Mellon switched Mangan and Barnett for Collins and Akpa Akpro.

But it was the home side who continued to press, with Zack Kotwica's powerful strike bravely headed away by Mark Ellis.

Town hit back with a flying Barnett just failing to connect with a Lawrence corner.

But all the momentum was with the home side with Shrewsbury indebted to Leutwiler for keeping them ahead in the 79th minute.

A right-wing cross was headed towards the bottom corner by Harrad, but the goalkeeper produced a brilliant one hand save to keep it out before getting back to his feet to block Joe Hanks' effort.

Town were now rocking with Barnett forced to clear off the goal line following a scramble in the box.

The striker was then straight into action at the other end, with Trevor Carson producing a sprawling save to tip his 20-yard strike over the bar.

Town saw out the remaining minutes of the game comfortably, with hundreds of fans descending on to the pitch at the final whistle to celebrate promotion.