A first half Alassana Jatta header was the difference as United travelled to Meadow Lane on Tuesday night.
Mike Williamson made three changes following Saturday's victory at Fleetwood, with Aaron Hayden, Sean Fusire and Elliot Embleton coming into the starting line-up in place of Paul Dummett, Will Patching and Kadeem Harris.
The first chance of the evening fell at the feet of Joe Hugill after Callum Whelan found him with a ball over the top of the defence, he was pushed to the left hand side of the box and Alex Bass claimed the shot in the Notts County goal.
Hugill was on the end of another ball forward with 12 minutes on the clock as McArthur looked for the same run, but the keeper was out quickly to block the toe-poked effort from the edge of the box as United continued to press forward.
A Sam Lavelle pass was intercepted by Notts County who got themselves into the box, Jatta worked a bit of space for the shot but Lavelle got back to block.
Notts County took the lead after 19 minutes. George Abbott got a cross into the box from the right which Jatta rose to nod home past Gabe Breeze.
Abbott was the creator again for Notts County as he picked out McGoldrick on the edge of the box, Breeze did well to get down and tip the shot around the post for a corner which he then came out to punch away.
Just before the break, Whelan set Hugill away with the whole of the Notts County half ahead of him. He took his time but dragged his left footed shot past the post.
HALF-TIME: Notts County 1-0 United
The first chance of the second half fell to the hosts with just 30 seconds on the clock, Jodi Jones put a wicked ball into the box but neither Jatta nor McGoldrick could prod it home at the back stick.
United immediately went up the other end and intercepted a poor clearance from Bass in the County goal. Hugill picked his spot from the edge of the box but it cannoned back off the post.
Hugill was involved again as he used his pace to get past Platt and get a ball into the box. Scott recycled it to Whelan but Bass held the shot.
Abbott tried to tee-up Jatta for another goal as County made the most of a ricochet off Thomas in the box, but Lavelle got back just in time to get the ball away from the striker.
Patching found the pass inside the full-back as Williams made the run down the right, his low ball into the box went through the United bodies and Notts County scrambled it away.
United continued to press as the fourth official put seven minutes added time on the board. Jordan Jones came closest as he took the shot on from the corner of the box which flew just past the post.
FULL-TIME: Notts County 1-0 United
Teams:
Notts County - Bass, McDonald (Johnson 72), Bedeau, Platt, Hinchy, Jones (Gordon 72), Grant (Edwards 72), McGoldrick, Tsaroulla, Jatta (Jarvis 92), Abbott.
Unused subs - Slocombe, Whitaker, Cundy.
United - Breeze, Lavelle, Hayden (Thomas 45 +2), Jones, Hugill, Scott (Harris 63), McArthur, Williams, Whelan, Embleton (Robson 81), Fusire (Patching 64).
Unused subs - Lewis, Harper, Ellis.
Goals:
Notts County - Jatta (19)
United - N/A
Yellow cards:
Notts County - McDonald (14), McGoldrick (86)
United - Fusire (15), McArthur (76),
Red cards:
Notts County - N/A
United - N/A
Match officials:
Referee - Abigail Byrne
Assistant Referee 1 - Stephen Wade
Assistant Referee 2 - William Cavanagh
Fourth Official - Callum Gough
Attendance:
8,521 (455 away)
