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The victory, thanks to goals from centre halves Greg Heald and Tobi Jinadu, was only marginally deserved, but it was the sending off of Tim Sills after 28 minutes that stood out, as it means the striker is ineligible for the FA Cup weekend.
Shots boss Terry Brown appealed the decision at Soho Square on Tuesday after referee Simon Beck sent the striker off for a seemingly innocuous challenge.
But the decision was upheld and Sills now faces a three-match ban which also possibly carries him into the FA Trophy first round clash with Conference leaders Grays Athletic on December 17.
Brown said: “I thought the decision was wrong, I've looked at the video of the incident and Tim hasn't touched the guy.
“We will be appealing immediately against it and I would ask the referee to look at it again and judge it because if he's given that as an elbowing offence, it is clearly not an elbow. I hope the referee has a chance to look at it and if he's got anything about him he'll change it.
“It will be a massive blow to us if we lose him, it was a massive blow today as a lot of the game goes on around him. If we lose him through poor refereeing we'll have to get over it and still mount a challenge next week."
The boss added Cambridge United striker John Turner to the squad just before the loan deadline on Thursday, in what has become a crucial addition now Sills is supended.
The 19-year-old joins the Shots for a month and will start alongside Matt Gearing this weekend if the appeal fails as fellow striker Ashley Vincent is cup-tied.
Saturday's win propelled the Shots to 11th in the table, and just seven points from a coveted Play-Off place — quite a turnaround from just over six weeks ago when the Shots found themselves at the foot of the table.
But Saturday's performance was not enough to convince fans that the corner was turned. Indeed the second half was poor. Granted, both sides were playing with ten men which meant it was never going to be a classic, but after such a promising performance at Cambridge United the week before, it was hard to believe this was largely the same side playing.
“Forest Green deserved something out of the game, and they always looked likely to get a equaliser. I'm disappointed with our performance today, I have to say, but the difference between now and the start of the season is that we're winning these games.
“We have to be better than that. We're not kidding ourselves. That wasn't good enough. We never got to grips with Alsop and I'm disappointed with that,” added Brown.
The only change to the side that beat Cambridge was Tobi Jinadu, replacing an injured John Brough (thigh).
There were, however, several familiar faces in the Rovers side. Sekani Simpson, Julian Alsop, Guy Madjo and substitute Zema Abbey all trialled for the Shots in the summer. Former striker Scott Rendell was also on the bench.
The Shots started well, but it was the visitors who took the lead against the run of play.
It was always going to be one of those triallists that would come back to haunt the Shots, and sure enough, it was Madjo's left-footed low shot that was deflected in by Matt Somner, beating a wrong-footed Nikki Bull.
The Shots looked to come back but keeper Ryan Clarke was first to the ball against a leaping Greg Heald from Brian Tinnion's corner. At the other end, Alex Meechan blasted over the bar when in a good position.
Nick Crittenden won a corner after great work down the wing, and it paid off as Heald's low shot beat the crowd of players on the line to equalise just past the half hour mark.
With the Shots back level they seemed to find their feet, as Sills went close, heading into the grateful arms of Clarke.
Then came the first incident of what was to be an eventful afternoon. Sills rose to head the ball with Rovers left-back Damon Searle.
Referee Mr Beck blew his whistle and incredibly sent Sills off for allegedly elbowing Searle.
The Recreation Ground was stunned as there had seemed little in the challenge. What's more, there was no furious reaction from the away bench, just a yard from the incident, as you would expect to see had there been a red-card offence.
However, the sending off spurred the Shots on and three minutes later they were in front. A handball from Simpson on the edge of the box saw him booked, Darren Barnard delivered the resulting free kick and Jinadu powerfully headed home.
Alsop, a handful up front, hit a long-range effort that was gathered by Bull, while Vincent blasted over for the Shots.
The visiting side almost drew level when Madjo burst through, leaving the defence in his wake.
One-on-one with Bull, he shot past the outstretched keeper, but the effort rolled just inches past the post.
A minute later Rovers found themselves down to ten as their own striker was sent off. In an off-the-ball incident Madjo apparently kicked out at Heald and Mr Beck had no hesitiation in reaching for his red card once again.
With both sides forced into playing lone strikers, chances were hard to come by for the remainder of the half, although Alsop headed wide on the stroke of half-time.
Just four minutes after the break, Rovers were gifted a chance to bring themselves level, but Matt Gadsby somehow shot over at close range.
Two Alsop efforts went the same way in a second half that had decidedly gone off the boil.
Both bosses reverted to two up front, Rendell went on for Rovers while Brown sacrificed Crittenden for Turner.
Alsop again headed wide before a strong penalty claim from the Shots was waved away after substitute Matt Gearing was seemingly brought down by keeper Clarke.
The visitors won a free-kick on the byline close to the area after Barnard was involved in a tussle with substitute Abbey. With Mr Beck in red-card mode the Shots faithful held their breath, but the left-back received just a booking.
Late on, Rendell hit the post but was offside anyway as the Shots clung on for all three points — their fourth consecutive win.
With thanks to the Aldershot News.
You can read Terry Browns reaction on the decision to uphold the ban on the official club website at:
http://www.theshots.co.uk/NewsPage.ink?nid=26841