Doncaster Rovers striker Paul Barnes score two minutes from time to take the points back to Yorkshire and put them in a good position for a play-off place.
Forest Green however, matched their visitors and will feel hard done by that they could not hang on for a point.
The home side had the first clear chance after 12 minutes from Steve Perrin's throw out to Martin Foster and his deep cross towards the Doncaster penalty area was brought down by Alex Meechan whose low drive forced Andy Warrington to tip the ball round the post.
Doncaster struggled to keep up with their hosts at times with Francis Tierney's direct free-kick flying straight at Perrin being their only threat midway through the first half.
However, with the game needing a goal two of them came in a minute with the visitors striking just before half time when David Morley latched on to a throw in and drove the ball from the edge of the area into the bottom right hand corner.
Less than 40 seconds later Forest Green equalised when a Darren Jones free-kick was flicked on by Kayode Odejayi and Neil Grayson buried the ball into the top left hand corner close range.
Grayson should have given Forest Green the lead three minutes into the second half when his header from Martin Foster's right wing cross fell straight into the arms of Warrington.
The Doncaster keeper than again came to his side's rescue, tipping an Odejayi volley over the bar after the Nigerian had been played in by Grayson.
Doncaster came inches from snatching the lead five minutes from time when an attacking throw-in was chested down by Don Goodman and hit by Barnes, but the ball bounced off the bar and then the left hand post before being cleared.
Two minutes from time Steve Jenkins' error allowed Ricky Ravenhill to head across the face of the net and Barnes finished for the killer goal.