Forest Women travelled South to Stadium MK to face Watford in the FA WNL play-off final for a place in the Championship next season.
Andy Cook made one change from the starting eleven that secured the Northern Premier Division against Stoke City as Yasmin Mosby started and Mai Moncaster missed out through injury.
Forest started brightly with both Charlotte Greengrass and Yasmin Mosby having their efforts saved by the Watford ‘keeper.
It was Watford who opened the scoring in the 17th minute as Poppy Wilson broke the deadlock with a header at the back post.
The Reds almost had the equaliser on 22 minutes as Sophie Domingo and Yasmin Mosby worked well to force a save from the ‘keeper.
With a quarter of an hour remaining in the opening 45, Becky Anderson fired in an excellent free kick which was inches away from levelling the score.
The Hornets almost had their second of the afternoon as a long-ranged effort went just wide of the goal.
Half-time: Nottingham Forest 0-1 Watford
There was almost an opening for Mosby in the 54th minute as the striker couldn’t quite reach a loose ball in the area.
Amy West came closer to levelling the final with a great strike going just wide of the far post.
Andy Cook looked to freshen things up in with 15 minutes remaining as Gianna Mitchell and Niamh Reynolds were introduced. Yasmin Mosby and Sophie Domingo made way.
Greengrass headed over an effort with 10 minutes left of the play-off final.
Naomi Powell replaced Olivia Cook with minutes left at Stadium MK.
Full-time: Nottingham Forest 0-1 Watford