Wanderers slipped to their second 1-0 defeat in Gloucestershire inside a week in what was a wasteful performance at the New Lawn.

Ian Evatt’s side laboured in the first half and deservedly fell behind to a close-range effort from Connor Wickham.

They improved after the break – or at least created chances – only for Dion Charles, Jon Dadi Bodvarsson and Kieran Sadlier to waste the best of them.

After some stinging criticism in the light of Tuesday’s 1-0 defeat at Cheltenham, Evatt wanted a reaction from his side. And for the first 10 minutes his challenge looked like it had been accepted.

Dion Charles and Elias Kachunga had looked lively early on, the former getting close to turning in a good cross from Gethin Jones seven minutes in. But any forward momentum quickly slowed to a crawl as the home side started to take control of the game.

FGR gave a taster of what was to come 13 minutes in, Regan Hendry picked up a loose ball in midfield and turned to slide a pass through for Amani Little, only for James Trafford to make a good stop with his feet.

Trafford was needed again moments later, racing off his line to clear in front of Little after Ben Stevenson pushed the ball into space behind Declan John.

Wanderers had fallen into the same sort of malaise they had showed at Cheltenham, and it wasn’t long before the home side had taken full advantage.

Hendry again turned into space, sliding a pass for full-back Corey O’Keefe, whose low cross was turned in at close range by Wickham.

The home side, buoyed by the goal, continued to press for the rest of the half. Bolton had lost all of their early vigour and looked pedestrian in possession.

Jack Iredale came on for George Johnston at half time – and Evatt quickly followed that change with the introduction of Dapo Afolayan off the bench for George Thomason.

Wanderers put more pressure on the FGR goal as a result but they were struggling to create anything meaningful. Charles had their first shot on target – since the Lincoln game, no less – when he was played into the box by John, but keeper Luke McGee was off his line well to make the block.

John and Charles had shots blocked, the latter also kicking fresh air after Afolayan had got to the byline to deliver a dangerous cross.

The home side continued to defend their penalty area well from a barrage of corners but with 10 minutes left a blind backpass put Charles clean through, McGee coming to his side’s rescue with a great save at the striker’s feet.

Sub Jon Dadi Bodvarsson then steered John’s cross narrowly over the crossbar as Bolton continued to try and find a way back into the game.

And moments later another replacement, Kieran Sadlier, volleyed wastefully over the bar from 10 yards out.

Forest Green could have sealed it when Myles Peart-Harris broke through, Iredale making a goal-saving challenge, but they managed to hold out during a tense five minutes of stoppage time to record a famous win.