Colchester United preserved their remarkable record of not having lost at Meadow Lane since 1971 and hauled themselves out of the bottom four, thanks to some frail defending by Notts County.
It took Colchester only seven minutes before they were gifted a first goal, gratefully scored by 18-year-old Dean Morgan.
Notts quickly rallied however and Danny Allsopp scored a simple equaliser after quarter of an hour. Ian Baraclough gave him the ball from a throw and Allsopp, with an instinct for goal, turned and let fly with a shot that flew just inside Simon Brown's right-hand post.
Two minutes later Notts were ahead as midfielder Michael Brough celebrated his midweek call-up into the Welsh Under-21s. He powered into the penalty area before his shot glanced into the net off the far post.
Colchester kept battling on and got back on terms five minutes before half time.
Micky Stockwell created the danger with a fine run down the right and his transfer into the middle was met by Morgan for his second cool finish of the afternoon.
Notts were never wholly convincing as they went hunting for a second-half winner towards which manager Billy Dearden introduced Marcel Cas and striker Mark Stallard from the bench.
But, as on the two occasions in the first half, it was County's inability to defend that cost them dear.
The ball was switched from the right-hand side and Scott McGleish, who had been introduced only two minutes earlier, forced it over the line from close range.
It was then too late for Notts to stage another revival and their fans in the smallest Meadow Lane crowd of the season booed them off, disappointed that the FA Cup defeat at non-league Southport a week ago had been followed by a fourth home loss of the campaign.
Colchester recorded their first win in seven starts and nobody was more delighted than two-goal Morgan