Sam Osborne netted the winner as Notts County Reserves recorded a 2-1 win over Port Vale on Tuesday afternoon.
The winger's goal inside the last 15 minutes proved decisive after Elliott Ward's first-half header had been cancelled out shortly after the break by Dan Turner.
The result earned the Magpies their first Central League win since January, ending a four-match run without one.
Steve Chettle's side could have taken the lead inside three minutes when Remaye Campbell was brought down in the area by Vale keeper Sam Hornby as he went through one-on-one. He picked himself up to take the spot-kick but spurned the chance to get Notts off to a flyer, sending it wide of the post.
The Magpies bright start continued as they strung together good passing moves but the final ball was lacking and they failed to call the visiting stopper into action.
Vale began to grow into the game and, on 12 minutes, Mark Harris picked out Turner with a floated cross but his header back across goal beat the post.
Harris had a golden opportunity of his own moments later when he found space in behind the Notts defence but his shot only found the hands of Max Culverwell who turned it over the bar.
After two chances in quick succession for the visitors, the game settled down and it was not until the 34th minute there was another good sight of goal.
It went to the Magpies after a lovely measured pass from Will Patching allowed Dan Jones the space to cross from the byline after getting forwards from left back. He cut a low ball back to Cedric Evina who took a touch to compose himself but fired narrowly wide.
Jones did have a first-half assist to his name, though, thanks to a towering header from Ward. The centre back rose highest to meet an inswinging corner two minutes before the interval and powered home, giving Hornby no chance.
Notts carried the lead into half-time, but it didn't last long after it as a long ball downfield fell kindly for Turner who lifted over Culverwell from 25 yards.
The two did battle again as the hour-mark loomed but the Notts keeper was equal to the 20-year-old's shot from the right-hand side of the box, holding the ball well.
The visitors were creating chances with increasing regularity and Culverwell had to get down well to his left to keep Harris out, before staying alert to prevent Nottingham Forest loanee Toby Edser finding the net from the edge of the box.
Harris went close again on 69 minutes after cutting in from the left flank to curl an effort just past the post before Notts had their first real opening of the second period.
Just like their goal, it came from a corner. This time it was Patching with the inswinger which Campbell headed goalwards - the ball was deflected to the back post where it fell for Shaun Brisley but he didn't catch his volley properly and missed the target.
It seemed as though Notts had weathered the second-half storm, and that proved to be the case on 77 minutes.
Osborne turned his man on the touchline before cutting inside past a couple of defenders and sending a shot towards goal which beat Hornby with the help of a deflection.
Harris looked for an immediate response for the visitors but was denied by Brisley's block, before captain for the day Declan Dunn sent an effort narrowly wide from a tough angle at the other end.
And there was no more goalmouth action as the Magpies saw out the remaining moments to earn victory.
Notts: Culverwell, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Brisley, Ward, Jones, Osborne, Dunn, Husin, Patching, Evina, Campbell.
Subs not used: Brooks, Kennedy-Williams, Cummings, Simmons, Ramirez.