Notts County moved off the foot of the League Two table as they gave themselves hope in their fight to avoid relegation with a 3-1 away win against Carlisle United.
In horrendous wind, the Magpies took the lead in the first half when Kane Hemmings seized on a back pass from former Magpie Gary Liddle to score at the second attempt, having initially been denied by keeper Adam Collin.
The striker then grabbed his 11th of the season from the penalty spot after Richard Duffy was fouled, only for Hallam Hope to reduce the deficit courtesy of a blunder by Magpies keeper Ryan Schofield.
But Lewis Alessandra made the game safe when he scored on the counter-attack, putting the ball into an unguarded net after former Magpie Collin got caught upfield trying to make the most of a free-kick.
The result lifed Notts off the bottom of the table with the gap to safety reduced to four points ahead of a huge game against Morecambe this weekend.
Magpies manager Neal Ardley would have been delighted with the performance, having decided to make four changes for the trip to Brunton Park, with Craig Mackail-Smith and Jon Stead ruled out, and Virgil Gomis and Ben Barclay dropping to the bench.
In came Hemmings, David Vaughan, Richard Duffy and Alessandra as the Magpies looked for a vital victory in their attempt to fend off relegation to the National League.
But both sides had to deal with truly horrendous conditions as a result of Storm Gareth. Predictably, it took a while for both sides to get to grips with an incredibly strong wind.
With Carlisle playing against it, former Notts keeper Collin was struggling to clear the halfway line which the visitors knew they had to make the most of.
They nearly did just that in the eighth minute when a lovely pass from Mitch Rose picked out Enzio Boldewijn, whose low drive was saved, presenting Kane Hemmings with the rebound.
The striker opted for power rather than placement and his effort zipped over the bar as Ardley’s side were given roars of encouragement by a vociferous section of travelling fans.
Vaughan then tried a shot from distance hoping it would catch the wind and he achieved what he set out to do but it was of no concern to Collin, who watched it sail wide of the post.
Carlisle were struggling to get out of their half and when Alessandra dispossessed Liddle, he got into the area, but over-hit his cross which went straight out for a throw-in.
Notts were trying to make use of the wind that was behind them and they almost snuck ahead when Collin dropped a corner but Alessandra could not force it over the line.
Set-pieces were causing Carlisle a problem, which was evident when Tom Parkes lashed wide of his own goal from a Notts free-kick.
Notts continued their search for an opening goal and it almost came 10 minutes before half-time only for Collin to make a fabulous save as a free-kick took a deft flick and appeared destined for the bottom corner.
But the goal Notts had been threatening finally arrived when a short back pass from Liddle was seized by Hemmings who charged forward.
The striker saw his first shot saved by Collin but gathered the rebound and did enough to guide it into an empty net.
Carlisle had offered little threat but some carelessness in midfield allowed Hope to get to the edge of the box where he picked out Danny Grainger.
The shot skidded up off Schofield but he managed to claim the ball at the second attempt, much to the relief of his team-mates.
With Carlisle having the wind behind them, you expected the roles to be reversed in terms of the defending and Notts immediately conceded a free-kick 20 yards out.
Grainger struck it well enough but it thudded straight into Schofield’s chest before Notts went on the attack through Stubbs, who fell inside the area but his claims for a penalty were waved away.
After Regan Slater had thrashed wide from distance, Notts won a corner following good work from Alessandra but referee Eddie Ilderton spotted an infringement.
Notts were defending the elements well and in the 66th minute they had a glorious chance to give themselves breathing space as they won a penalty when Duffy was clattered by Anthony Gerrard.
Hemmings took responsibility for the penalty, his second in four games, and buried it high and wide of Collin to take his tally to 11 for the season.
Notts were in a position of authority but they inexplicably gave Carlisle a route back into the game when Schofield, placing the ball on the ground to kick it out, was unaware that Hope was stood behind him.
The striker nipped in to take the ball and rolled it into an empty net.
That was the cue for Carlisle to press for an equaliser and Schofield was required to make two saves to deny Thomas.
But Alessandra made the game safe at the end when he rushed upfield to score in an unguarded net after Collin had been caught upfield when trying to get on the end of a free-kick.
Now the Magpies turn their attention to Saturday’s home game against Morecambe.
Notts County : Schofield, Duffy, Alessandra, Vaughan, Boldewijn (Bird 82), Hemmings, Stubbs, O’Brien, Milsom, Rose, Doyle. Other subs: Fitzsimons, Tootle, Bird, barclay, Gomis, Patching.
Carlisle United : Collin, Grainger (Simpson 71), Liddle, Gerrard, Parkes, Hope, Devitt, Slater, O’Hare, Etuhu, Scougall (Thomas 57). Other subs: Gray, Miller, Kennedy, Jones, Grant.
Referee : Eddie Ilderton.
