The striker's effort was eventually enough to stop the Magpies' dreadful run of five straight defeats, but only after Stags midfielder Giles Coke had somehow had the post in second half injury time when faced with an open goal.
The game was a tense affair but the vastly-improved attendance of 9,779 appeared to galvanise the Magpies from their awful slump that had seen them plunge dangerously down the League Two table.
Gudjon Thordarson's side gave a much-improved display to their last two games against Peterborough and Lincoln, but were still forced to ride their luck on occasions by a lively Mansfield outfit who have now all-but ended fears of relegation to the Conference.
Thordarson opted for a 4-4-2 formation for the encounter - the first time home fans will have seen the side play the system since the early-season months. Rob Ullathorne was again named in the Xl after returning at Lincoln, while Nathan Doyle made his home debut on the other flank.
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Despite the highly-charged atmosphere - for Meadow Lane standards, of course - the game struggled to get going in the early stages.
Richie Barker could have scored inside 30 seconds but scuffed his volley straight at former Stag Kevin Pilkington, but neither side was able to really test the opposing team on a regular basis.
Gradually, the on-form Stags gained more of a foot-hold on the game and teenage striker Danny Reet fired the game's best effort of the game so far in the 15th minute.
The recently-signed striker - looking every inch the Premiership wannabe - struck a powerful 25-yarder that was well tipped round the post by Pilkington.
Notts were playing with plenty of effort but were often struggling to even get near former Premiership stopper Kevin Pressman's goal.
Chillingworth emerged from the bench in the 40th minute to the cheers of the home support, frustrated at the complete lack of effort from Dadi in attack.
The on-loan Forest striker was withdrawn with a dead leg and his only really contribution was to fall-over theatrically to win a free-kick right on the edge of the 18-yard box that was wasted by Lee Crooks.
David Pipe produced a blistering 30-yard strike that was well-held, but good chances were definitely at a premium for the home side.
Just as the game appeared to be heading to the interval goal-less, Notts' Chris Palmer struck with a superb effort to delight the home faithful and give the Magpies the lead.
The former Derby winger found himself in some space 20 yards from goal and curled a delicious effort around Pressman and into the bottom left-hand corner for his first league goal of the season.
Half time: Notts County 1-0 Mansfield Town
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Doyle volleyed over from long-range, before Pressman made an outstanding save to deny Chillingworth. The on-loan striker - who was providing everything Dadi wasn't - fired a dipping half-volley from 25 yards that was brilliantly tipped-over by the veteran stopper - who had been heckled mercilessly by home fans due to his slightly fuller figure.
Mansfield boss Peter Shirtliff was to provide the game's turning point on 57 minutes though as he unleashed Simon Brown from the bench in-place of the fading Reet.
Reet was arguably been one foul away from a sending-off after being booked by the excellent match official Peter Walton for a series of crude early challenges, largely on Pilkington.
Brown had put-back a hernia operation in order to feature in this fixture and it wasn't long before the home fans were ruing that decision.
The pacy striker immediately broke in behind the Notts defence, only to be denied by an immaculate challenge from the outstanding Kelvin Wilson.
But Brown's presence on the field had revitalised his team-mates and Pilkington again had to be on his guard to tip-over a flying strike from left-winger Lawrence Wilson.
Wilson though, wasn't to be denied for long and gave his side a deserved equaliser in the 61st minute. Brown was the orchestrator, streaking in behind the Notts defence to drive in a low cross that was easily converted at the far post by the unmarked on-loan Everton player.
Notts fans were disappointed and it was beginning to prove a closely-fought contest between events on-the-field and off-the-field as to which was the more entertaining.
The gradually-increasing congregation at the front of the Z Block in the Jimmy Sirrel Stand took exception to two fans being escorted from the home section of the crowd and angrilly rounded on stewards.
As it turns out, the stewards had ejected the supporters due to the fact that they were actually Mansfield fans intent on causing trouble in the Y Block section of the 'Lane.
Why this upset the Magpies supporters so much remains a mystery.
Meanwhile, as all this was going on, most of the Z Block barely noticed as the prolific Barker ghosted in to expertly nod home his 20th strike of the season just two minutes after the Stags had equalised.
Mike Edwards' headed clearence from a free-kick gained the neccesary height but not the required length and Barker lost marker Julien Baudet to send the visitors into a sudden lead that delighted the 4,000 travellers who had made the short journey.
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Lewis McMahon emerged from the bench in-place of Ullathorne, with Pipe being pressed into attack alongside Chillingworth. Sheridan moved to his more natural role on the left wing, with Palmer slotting in at left back.
The chances of an equaliser were looking remote with Mansfield's rearguard generally dealing with Notts' inexperienced attack, but Chillingworth was to save the day in the 76th minute.
The striker is due to go back to parent club Rushden & Diamonds in the next week but did his chances of a loan extension no harm by sliding home from Sheridan's cross after Edwards had mis-controlled.
The goal sparked joyous celebrations with a number of the previously-mentioned supporters flocking onto the near-side of the pitch in sheer delight.
Mansfield reacted well to the strike though and were to have the better of the closing stages. Wilson was forced into a cynical lunge on Brown that earned him a warranted booking, though the resulting close-range free-kick was wasted.
The best chance was to come in stoppage time though, with the Magpies seemingly losing all school of thought as the Stags brokeaway. Such was Notts' eagerness to plough forward from a McMahon long-throw, Mansfield were granted a five-on-two breakaway.
A goal seemed certain; More so, when Coke rounded Pilkington but somehow the midfielder's left-footed shot hit the foot of the post and rebounded back into the grateful arms of the Notts goalkeeper, who was booed by the travelling supporters thoughout.
The attack provided the highlight of the match as a handful of visiting supporters prematurely began to invade the pitch in celebration, but questions must be asked as to the logic of pilling so many men forward with the contest even.
Crooks fired over from long-range at the death before Walton brought the most entertaining match of the season at Meadow Lane to a close.
Full Time: Notts County 2-2 Mansfield Town
Match Ratings and reaction to follow.