Visiting Canvey Island took all three points in a game that both sides desperately needed to win.
Both teams needed a win to kick-start a winning run that might allow them to alleviate their problems near the bottom of the Conference table.
Forest, seeking only their fourth win of the season, dominated the opening proceedings and rose to the challenge set by manager Gary Owers that his side should put on a better show for the Rovers faithful as they had under performed in recent home games.
Jon Beswetherick and Alex Meechan, influential in his role as a forward, both went close for the home side in the opening proceedings, but Canvey keeper Danny Potter had both efforts on goal covered.
Forest took the lead through Meechan on 23 minutes when he finished crisply with a right-foot shot from Ryan Harley's pass from the left for his second league goal of the season.
The pattern of play in the opening exchanges continued as Rovers pressed forward for a valuable goal that would have allowed them to settle.
Failure however to sustain such early pressure allowed Canvey forward Lee Boylan to level things after 33 minutes with a 20-yard strike for his seventh goal of the season.
Forest's woes continued in the on the hour mark when Canvey's inspirational midfield player Jeff Minton finished from close range to give the visitors the lead - and victory.
Despite late efforts by substitute Matthew Gadsby, Forest's poor start in their first season back in the Conference continued as teams around them at the bottom of the league recorded valuable wins to leave Rovers on the same number of points as Tamworth, but more worryingly second from bottom in a game they really needed to win.