Johnson, who has returned to Meadow Lane for a second spell on loan from Derby County, found the net just before the half-hour mark of a rousing contest from which Rochdale were entitled to feel unlucky at not sharing the spoils at least.
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Yet the relief all round Meadow Lane at only the second home win of this year was palpable and Johnson was the fans' hero.
Apart from his matchwinning strike, he was one of two Notts players to clear off the goal-line in the second half which Dale dominated with a non-stop onslaught.
Gary Silk also made a dramatic goal-line clearance as Notts hung on somewhat desperately to their slender lead.
It would have been so different if Notts had accepted the chances which fell to them in the first half.
Most came the way of Danny Crow who, with three opportunities, was off-target each time.
First he screwed his shot just wide of goalkeeper Tommy Lee's right-hand post, then drove the ball over the bar with two more chances.
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Notts lost central defender Mike Edwards to a dead leg at half-time and seven minutes from the end Johnson limped off with a groin strain.
Despite losing both their central defenders, however, Notts managed to keep a clean sheet for the second game running.
However, they had a scare when Adam Le Fondre turned the ball into the Notts net, his celebrations being cut short by a linesman's flag.