Goals from Ethan Dekel-Daks and Detlef Osong helped The Reds move into a two-nil advantage, but an impressive comeback allowed Bolton to turn the game on its head.
Callum King-Harmes grabbed the first for the visitors before De’Marlio Brown-Sterling netted a second-half hat-trick to condemn Gareth Holmes’ side to a loss in wet and windy conditions at The Nigel Doughty Academy.
Forest had the better of the opening exchanges and were rewarded for their bright start when they took the lead in the fourth minute. Dekel-Daks’ 25-yard stunning free-kick dipped over the wall and flew into the top corner past Bolton ‘keeper Luke Hutchinson, who stood no chance.
After a frantic first five minutes, the game began to settle down as both sides had their fair share of possession. Dekel-Daks tried his luck once again from a dead-ball scenario, but his long-range attempt was way over the crossbar.
The Reds dominated proceedings and doubled their advantage on 24 minutes. Alexander Gibson-Hammond played a pass through the Bolton defence to Osong, who slotted the ball in off the post to the delight of his side.
However, Bolton responded well to going two-goals behind and The Trotters halved the deficit, 11 minutes later. A mix-up in the Forest back-line allowed King-Harmes time inside the penalty area to pick his spot and tuck the ball low into the bottom left corner.
Kyle McAdam went close to restoring the hosts’ cushion moments before half-time, after Gibson-Hammond drove into the box and found the left-back, but his powerful effort was blocked, as The Reds led going into the break.
Bolton began the second period on the front foot in an attempt to grab an equaliser and they did so just two minutes after the restart. King-Harmes pulled the ball across from the right-wing to Brown-Sterling and he fired a powerful shot into the top corner.
Moments later, the visitors completed the turnaround with a moment of brilliance from Brown-Sterling. King-Harmes was involved once more when his lay-off found the winger, and he created half-a-yard of space before unleashing a superb long-range effort into the back of the net past Nykah Liburd-Hines.
As the half wore on, Bolton were able to control the contest and they were gifted the opportunity to add a fourth goal when King-Harmes was brought down by Aaron Donnelly. Brown-Sterling stepped up and converted the spot-kick into the bottom right-corner to seal his hat-trick.
Forest pushed to try and pull one back and had chances through Gibson-Hammond and McAdam, with the latter’s effort striking the post, but were unable to force a goal, as The Reds will have to wait for their first win since November.
Forest: Liburd-Hines, Bello, McAdam, Back (c), Mutoti, Donnelly, Fankwe (Amekortu 76’), Hammond, Osong, Dekel-Daks (Korpal 64’), Gibson-Hammond
Subs not used: Statham, Collins, Soloman
Goals: Dekel-Daks 4’, Osong 24’
Bookings: Back 66’, Amekortu 87’