But for some wayward finishing, and three last ditch interceptions by Brian O'Callaghan, Gudjon Thordarson's team could quite easily have been thrashed by a similar scoreline to the 5-1 drubbing they received from the Diamonds last season.
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Terrible Notts beaten at Rushden
But for some wayward finishing, and three last ditch interceptions by Brian O'Callaghan, Gudjon Thordarson's team could quite easily have been thrashed by a similar scoreline to the 5-1 drubbing they received from the Diamonds last season.
The first half saw very little from the Magpies going forward, the only action worthy of any mention being a 25 yard free kick from Julien Baudet that was hit straight at Scott Tynan, the home stopper.
This was also to be the only time that Tynan was forced into any sort of a save in the entire game, such was the standard of Notts' performance.
This was also to be the only time that Tynan was forced into any sort of a save in the entire game, such was the standard of Notts' performance.
Meanwhile, Rushden - who sat 23rd in League Two going into the game -were denied two excellent interceptions from O'Callaghan.
The game's only goal came in the 33rd minute, on-loan West Ham striker Petr Mikolanda hit a speculative shot from 30 yards, that Kevin Pilkington allowed to fall over his head and into the goal.
The second half followed much the same pattern as the first, with no threat offered from the visitors, despite being backed by one of their best away following's this season.
Rushden twice came close to adding to their advantage when first a header from former Notts midfielder Darren Caskey that Pilkington gathered, while another former Magpie, Tyrone Berry, managed only to put the ball high and wide with the goal at his mercy.
The second half followed much the same pattern as the first, with no threat offered from the visitors, despite being backed by one of their best away following's this season.
Rushden twice came close to adding to their advantage when first a header from former Notts midfielder Darren Caskey that Pilkington gathered, while another former Magpie, Tyrone Berry, managed only to put the ball high and wide with the goal at his mercy.
The Magpies produced their only real effort of the game in the 88th minute, when a shot by substitute Mark DeBolla was cleared with ease by the home captain Rob Gier from just inside the 6 yard box.
Rushden could and should have had a second in the last minute when Lee Tomlin fired straight at Pilkington when clean through on goal.
Rushden could and should have had a second in the last minute when Lee Tomlin fired straight at Pilkington when clean through on goal.
Unsavoury scenes followed the final whistle.
With the travelling fans quite rightly snubbing the players as they left the pitch, David Pipe got into a slanging match with a small group of Notts fans as they exited the ground.
With the travelling fans quite rightly snubbing the players as they left the pitch, David Pipe got into a slanging match with a small group of Notts fans as they exited the ground.