Indeed Wrexham had applied most of the second-half pressure but had found the well-marshalled Notts defence in superb form marshalled around skipper Julien Baudet.
The game started at the kind of lethargic pace normally associated with a pre-season practice match but towards the end of it Notts began to reveal more purpose.
Wrexham goalkeeper Michael Ingham saved from Lewis McMahon, brought into the Notts midfield from Sheffield Wednesday, and with his fingers still stinging made a save off his legs from the Notts central defender Kelvin Wilson.
Those were the nearest attempts to a goal by either side and when Ingham was called into action again just after the hour mark it was also to deny McMahon.
Ingham parried McMahon's effort which fell to the feet of Chris Palmer who, with the goal at his mercy, blazed over.
Darren Ferguson was pulling all the strings for Wrexham in midfield and the visitors created two chances in rapid succession.
Danny Williams headed narrowly over before Wrexham nearly snatched a 78th minute lead.
Mark Jones, who scored a thrilling goal against Boston on Saturday, was denied at full stretch by Notts goalkeeper Kevin Pilkington on his first home appearance.
Notts shuffled their pack but it seemed more with a view to hanging onto a point than forcing the winner.
As the game moved towards stoppage time, they broke the deadlock. Dennis Lawrence was beaten to the ball by Mike Edwards who used it perfectly for Long to show great composure in a one on one with Ingham, and from close range, found the back of the net.