A late Trevor Benjamin strike perhaps condemned Notts to League Two football again next season, with games running out to secure a playoff place.
Benjamin hit an 84th minute winner after Lawrie Dudfield (41) had cancelled out Kevin Harper's opener after seventeen minutes.
Notts were in good form all afternoon and can be pleased with their efforts against the Saddlers who will host League One football next season. They certainly didn't deserve to lose and it could be argued that they were the better side overall.
Two changes were made by Notts boss Steve Thompson with Jason Lee and David Pipe returning in place of Ian Ross and Andy Parkinson. Thompson again employed the attack-minded 4-3-3 formation that has recently helped Notts to four successive wins and four consecutive clean sheets.
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Walsall hadn't really got going until former Derby County ace Harper picked up on a Martin Butler pass to fire home past a stranded Kevin Pilkington to send the visiting fans into raptures.
It was against the run of play and the superb Dudfield toiled with Walsall's defence looking to get Notts back into the game.
Pipe's crossing was letting him down, Ince claiming well several times, before Jay Smith, freed up in midfield playing alongside more defensive minded players in Gary Silk and Matt Somner, hit a long effort off target.
Ince was first called into serious action, superbly saving a good Dudfield effort from the penalty spot before Silk also called him into action and Chris Westwood did well to block from Smith.
On 33 minutes Austin McCann swung in a corner and Mike Edwards glanced it towards goal, but Ince again did well to keep it out.
Notts were pressing for the goal and Walsall, despite looking neat and tidy in possession with Dean Keates busy in midfield and Butler lively up front, were rarely threatening Notts' backline.
Finally, Notts achieved a deserved breakthrough when the industrious Silk cleverly turned and crossed to Dudfield who nodded it down to himself before smashing it into the roof of Ince's net from inside the penalty box. It was a great finish, and if anyone had deserved a Notts equaliser it was the former Leicester ace.
Walsall boss Richard Money was forced into shuffling his pack at the break when key defender Anthony Gerrard picked up an injury and was replaced by Kris Taylor whilst Darren Wrack replaced Kevin Cooper.
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It was a bit nervy as the second half started, with neither side wanting to lose the game, with Butler the first to strike, though his effort didn't trouble Pilkington.
Dudfield and Walker linked up well to make the most of a loose Walsall ball, but Ince gathered as Walker attempted to hit the target.
Walker appeared confident and tried a hopeful long range effort which Ince easily gathered.
Westwood produced a superb last ditch interception after Lee got something on a centre and Dudfield looked ready to pounce.
The hosts were buoyant and backed by a vociferous home support, the majority in a 7,080 crowd, just over 2000 from Walsall, with an atmosphere the like that hadn't been heard for a long time in recent weeks. So buoyant that long range efforts were becoming the norm as Lee struck one that narrowly missed the target with Ince seemingly stranded.
Notts were forced into a substitute after an hour when Gary Silk left the field to a standing ovation for Ian Ross after picking up an injury.
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Parkinson, who had been in good form in his last two home appearances, entered the action on 65 minutes as Thompson attempted to get Notts the three points they richly deserved. He replaced Walker who also left the field to a standing ovation after putting in a lively and effective performance.
Notts put together a neat passing exchange on 68 with Parkinson, Somner, Lee and McCann all heavily involved before Parkinson's final ball wasn't picked up by a black and white shirt.
Notts were thoroughly dominant, clearly believing in themselves after their recent run of good form, but were consistently unable to breach a solid rearguard in Walsall who were living up to their tag of best defensive side in the league.
Backed by their fans, Notts continued to press, but Ince remained largely untested in terms of shots on goal.
That was until Smith crossed and Dudfield headed well with Daniel Fox saving Walsall with a superb block to prevent the goal bound effort. Somner picked up the rebound out wide and beat the full-back to find Parkinson who wildly lashed over Ince's bar.
Walsall made their final change after 73 minutes when Emmanuel Smith replaced former Notts loanee Craig Pead who had picked up an injury.
Parkinson burst through and was clearly brought down by Westwood right on the edge of the area but the referee, Kevin Friend, who has been involved in heavy controversy with Notts in the past, adamantly waved the protests away allowing the Saddlers to break and Butler to test Pilkington.
Friend's decision clearly angered the Notts bench who were furious that Notts weren't given what they could see was a clear penalty or free-kick - that decision would have been interesting.
Myles Weston replaced Somner with fifteen left to play, Somner another to leave the field to an ovation - as Thompson clearly looked to seize the initiative, knowing that a draw would probably not be enough.
The visitors got themselves back into the game with a spell of pressure that resulted in a goalmouth scramble, which neither side could get hold of until Notts eventually got bodies behind the ball to rid the danger. McCann and Hunt ended up down injured in the goalmouth as a result of their battling.
Undeservedly Trevor Benjamin, anonymous all game, latched onto a loose ball from Michael Dobson to fire home on 84 minutes to give the visitors a precious lead with the game nearing its climax. It was a lead they hardly deserved, but when you are where they are in the league, you do tend to get the breaks.
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Notts' last chance of forcing a late playoff bid came to the tune of five added minutes after a number of stoppages in the game.
However, despite Pipe finding the back of the net - after a whistle had gone for an infringement - and Smith lashing over, they never really looked like getting a second equaliser as they looked emotionally and physically drained following Benjamin's strike.
Had Notts won, they would be level on points with Shrewsbury who sit in seventh, with results elsewhere going their way. Now, despite the difference remaining only three points, Notts have games running out and the Shrews have two in hand meaning the playoffs look sadly unlikely.
Walsall achieved promotion following the win, joining them were Hartlepool who are next for Notts.
In his post-match interview Assistant Manager John Gannon told BBC Radio Nottingham: "The lads are shattered, absolutely shattered in there and with the results going as they did it's like a knife in your back aswell."