It took 12 minutes for the first meaningful shot to take place with Spencer Weir-Daley's effort for Forest easily saved.
It seemed as though it was going to be a long night as defence dominated but Accy gradually took control. An Ian Craney free-kick was their first shot on target, but they finished the half on a high.
Forest keeper Paul Smith was twice called into action as the half drew to a close.
First, the defenders backed off to give Gary Roberts space and he took advantage to hit a low shot and the keeper had to go full length to save and then Romauld Boco used his trickery to get in a shot that was parried at the near post and eventually scrambled away.
Forest's best effort in what had been a poor first period for them came when Ian Dunbavin had to save at the feet of Weir-Daley.
The visitors started the second half brightly. Wes Morgan was off-target with a header and then Accy defender Michael Welch had to get in a telling tackle to deny Weir-Daley.
Accrington weathered the storm and a patient build-up gave Craney the chance to turn in the box, only for his near-post effort to be blocked.
Stanley did not have to wait much longer before the deadlock was broken. Forrest had difficulties in clearing a dangerous cross and the ball eventually made its way to Paul Mullin on the edge of the area.
He shot through a crowd of players and the ball took a wicked deflection to go beyond the keeper's despairing dive.
From then on it was backs to the wall time. Dunbavin came into his own as he pushed a fierce drive from Gary Holt over the bar.
From the corner Danny Cullip threw himself at the ball only to see his powerful header blocked on the line.
The Stanley defence held firm under intense pressure from the Forest attack and Boco could have sealed the match deep into added time, only for Smith to deny the forward twice with his legs.
Nicky Southall had a shot blocked in the dying seconds. but it just wasn't Forest's night.