Alan White's late header was enough to end Notts County's run of three-straight losses at the 96.6 TFM Arena at Darlington with a typically gritty and solid performance to back all three points and get back to winning ways.

At times in recent weeks the Notts defence has come under criticism for giving away leaky goals, but when they were needed today they stood up to be counted and netted a vital and so important three points to keep them in the playoff picture.

Both sides had chances to take the lead with Andy Parkinson twice going close for Notts before the break after he forced a good save from David Stockdale before his outstretched good could only guide the ball wide bang on half time.

Darlo had their chances too, particularly in the second half when they enjoyed plenty of pressure but they rarely tested Saul Deeney in the Magpies goal.

Parkinson hit the post from a tight angle for Notts after they had soaked up plenty of pressure, but the best chance fell to Lawrie Dudfield after a mistake at the back allowed him to run clear at goal but he found Stockdale in fine form and he turned his effort away for a corner.

However, those missed chances were forgotten six minutes from time when following a corner Notts managed to get the ball back into the Darlington box and skipper Alan White rose highest to tower above everyone and head the ball into the back of the net for his fifth goal of the campaign.

Steve Thompson kept faith with Saul Deeney in goal ahead of Kevin Pilkington following last weekend's 2-1 loss to Macclesfield, but there were changes with Matt Somner, Junior Mendes and Lawrie Dudfield in for Daryl McMahon, the suspended Jason Lee and the injured David Pipe.

Dudfield was in for his first League start since 7 October at Mansfield, and with Pipe out Ian Ross operated on the right wing.

Notts kicked off at a cold TFM Arena, although it was certainly a lovely afternoon in the winter sunshine and it was a scrappy start on a heavy pitch and the first real chance fell to Darlington when Joachim was sent away down the right, but he could only chip the ball into the grateful arms of Deeney.

After a good run showing fine skill and pace down the right by Junior Mendes and opportunity opened for Andy Parkinson on the edge of the box but he could only slice the effort wide and despite getting a tough on the ball to guide it over Lawrie Dudfield was offside.

It was a chanceless opening twenty minutes, but Jay Smith was pulling the strings in midfield with some fine passes to release Mendes and later Parkinson down the right, but the crosses on both occasions were just a bit too deep for Dudfield who was advancing from deep into the box.

Dudfield on twenty-four had a shot from range which took a deflection off Close and diverted towards Stockdale, but in all fairness it was a half that was full of commitment and tough challenges but little in terms of shots at goal.

Martin Smith should have done better when unmarked at the far post on twenty-eight but he guided his header back across goal after lobbing the ball over Deeney, but White was on hand to clear while Cummins poorly dragged an effort wide from range after a spell of Darlington pressure.

Darlo had the ball in the net on thirty-two from a corner, but after heading in from just a few yards out the goal was ruled out for a foul on Deeney much to Darlington's dismay. Smith swung the corner in with Holloway meeting the ball with a firm header, but the effort was instantly ruled out for a foul on the Magpies' Irish goalkeeper.

After another fine ball by Smith to Parkinson down the right following his corner near the end of the half but his cross was again just a little too deep for Mendes, but the lively winger was causing plenty of problems and after a break down the right again Dudfield laid the ball into Parkinson's path on the edge of the box and he met the ball with a firm strike which Stockdale did well to palm away with Dudfield and Mendes lurking for any rebounds before Holloway cleared to safety.

Chances were beginning to crop up more and more as the half wore on, and Holloway had a good chance with a header following a deep Martin Smith free-kick which he couldn't keep on target while Armstrong fluffed his lines after having bags of room to shoot from the edge of the box which again frustrated the home fans at the impressive looking 96.6 TFM Arena.

Two minutes of added time were signaled and Parkinson was so close to bagging his third of the season during those added 120 seconds when he stretched all his length to get on the end of an Ian Ross cross-shot across the box, he guided the ball just wide of the far post.

Close: Andy Parkinson Came Close Three Times For Notts

Half-Time: Darlington 0-0 Notts County

No changes were made by either side at half-time, and it was Darlington who had the first chance of the second period after forty-nine when Wainwright cut inside from the right and let fly with a long-range effort with his left foot which zipped just over Deeney's bar.

Again both sides were full of commitment and desire, and it meant plenty of tackles flying in and desire to get the ball forward quickly and try and create chances.

Darlo threw Barry Conlon on for Alun Armstrong and the former Barnsley striker was straight into the thick of things with a shot which he hit into the ground which made it easy for Deeney, and then he almost opened the scoring with a thundering right-foot effort which hit Alan White straight in the stomach and out for a corner despite strong protests from the home fans and players for a penalty.

The home side were putting the pressure on by the hour mark, but were doing little to test Deeney in goal other than claim crosses and clear the ball rather than shot-stopping.

After soaking up a lot of pressure Notts broke well on the hour with Mendes and Dudfield combining well which allowed the latter to cross towards Mendes and Parkinson in a two-on-two situation but Holloway cleared his lines with the pair lurking to put the ball into the net from a few yards out.

With pace in their side Darlington were always dangerous going forward, but the defence were responding to Steve Thompson's midweek rallying call to be more solid and resolute in a repeat of their early-season form.

Parkinson was enjoying plenty of the ball and also getting Notts' best chances and on seventy minutes he hit the post from a tight angle after skinning Close at right-back. It was a tight angle, and had Parkinson forced the ball home it would have been some effort.

He was then moved to the right after Ian Ross was replaced by Daryl McMahon with twenty to go, and Notts almost took the lead in comical circumstances moments later through Gary Silk. The right-back advanced forward from defence to have a strike from range with a shot which looked routine for Stockdale but he somehow spilt the ball towards goal but he got back to save his blushes.

And minutes later Lawrie Dudfield capitalised on a mistake in the Darlington defence to just have Stockdale to beat, but with the outside of his foot he could only test the goalkeeper's reactions who turned the effort behind for a corner. It was a golden chance for Notts and also Dudfield to stake a claim, and the frustration told on the Notts bench with Steve Thompson close to banging the roof of the dugout as he realised just what a good chance it was for Notts.

Collins volleyed over for Darlo as their fans began to show their frustration, but with six minutes to go their frustrations were extended when Alan White rose highest to meet a superb far-post cross from Jay Smith to thunder the ball into the back of the net.

It was a superb header and the Darlington-born defender celebrated his effort in front of the Magpies faithful who were clearly just as delighted after our recent three straight losses.

Despite heavy, heavy late pressure Notts held on for a very important three points. It may have been gritty and hard work at times, but Notts stood up to be counted and got the points their solid showing deserved.