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Accrington began in more determined fashion than the hosts who looked lethargic and out of sorts.
Even so, the goal with which the Reds took a 17-minute lead should have been prevented.
Three Notts defenders failed to close down Jimmy Ryan and when the play opened up in front of him, the central midfielder drove the ball inside Kevin Pilkington's right-hand post.
The goalkeeper got a hand to it and, by his own later admission, should have kept it out.
Twenty minutes later, Accrington came so close to doubling their lead.
After their third corner of the game, a clearance fell invitingly to defender Phil Edwards, whose shot was on target but cleared on the goal-line by a vigilant Jamie Clapham.
Accrington again went searching for a second goal at the start of the second half and Pilkington saved with difficulty from Craig Lindfield, who was an on loan at Notts last season.
Then came the miss of the match. Myles Weston should have equalised from close range, but blasted over the top.
Notts, slowly but surely, were stepping up a gear and, after 72 minutes, Mike Edwards forced another defensive goal-line clearance - this time by Accrington's outstanding performer, Peter Cavanagh.
However, only two minutes later, Notts equalised after one of the best passing moves of the game.
Clapham and Weston combined delightfully down the left flank and Weston's pinpoint cross played in Delroy Facey for his eighth goal of the season.
Notts could have won it near the finish with a cracking drive by Matt Hamshaw which produced the best save of the game, Kenny Arthur diving to his right and turning the ball round and upright.
But there was no doubt that Stanley deserved their hard-won point.