It might not have been the result the Blues wanted but the performance will restore belief in the squad Steve Burr assembled for the 2014-15 season.
Again the lack of a cutting edge in opposition territory was evident but the hunger, desire and passion missing on Saturday returned.
This was the kind of showing that was needed and one that gives Burr something to build on over the next few weeks.
Forest Green could have had no complaints had the Blues taken a point back from the Cotswolds and with some better defending and finishing it might even have been more.
Having begun the season with a 5-0 walloping, Chester no doubt viewed this fixture as a chance to start all over again.
Burr made two changes to the side Barnet had taken apart, bringing in Sean McConville for the banned Danny Harrison and, perhaps more significantly, replacing keeper Jon Worsnop with Freddy Hall on debut.
Forest Green started with a 1-0 at Southport and manager Ady Pennock selected the same 16-man squad.
Three successive 10th-placed finishes represented under achievement for the ambitious Gloucestershire club, who were again among the pre-season promotion favourites.
Pennock has shelved the patient passing predecessor Dave Hockaday favoured and introduced a more direct approach, adding size and experience to his ranks.
Lee Hughes and Jon Parkin - combined age 70 - started up front meaning Chester could not afford to repeat the gift-wrapped defending on show on Saturday.
It took five minutes or so for the contest to settle down and the first chance fell to the Blues. David Pipe and Luke Oliver missed Hall's long clearance and Craig Mahon rolled the ball into the path of John Rooney but his attempt sailed over from 20 yards.
Rovers forced Hall into a save on eight minutes when Clovis Kamdjo connected with Robbie Sinclair's free kick but the midfielder headed straight into the keeper's hands.
Hall could do nothing to prevent the hosts taking the lead two minutes later when Sinclair crossed into the six yard box and Kamdjo steered into the bottom corner.
Rovers put the Blues under pressure for the next few minutes with Hall tipping an Elliott Frear behind from under his crossbar and Hughes heading over from a corner.
Chester survived and began to grow into the game, moving the ball around with confidence but never causing the Rovers defence too much trouble.
Kingsley James had a half-chance on 28 minutes when Oliver headed straight to him but his low shot flew wide. Rovers struggled for possession as the Blues kept the ball far better but there was no real danger for the home side.
Forest Green threatened before half time with Parkin blasting over on the turn and Sam Wedgbury volleying wide but the lead remained one goal.
Chester came out with intent in second period began and James' shot deflect inches wide off Hobson less than a minute after the restart.
Rovers were pegged back as the Blues turned the screw but there was a fear failing to convert the pressure into a goal would cost them.
Hall did well to keep out Wedgbury's stinging 25-yard drive on 52 minutes before Winn failed to hit the target with a powerful strike at the other end.
Forest Green did find a second goal on 55 minutes when Frear dispossessed Danny Taylor and raced 40 yards before pulling back to Parkin and he fired into the bottom corner at the second time of asking.
Chester continued to go on the offensive and Hobson was unlucky to see his excllent strike on the turn whistle wide and Kieran Charnock ghosted in unmarked but couldn't get on the end of Gareth Roberts' free kick.
Burr brought on Chris Iwelumo and Jamie Menagh but the second goal had taken some of the pressure off the home side, who now looked far more dangerous.
Rovers defender Danny Coles might have been lucky to escape with a yellow card for flooring Hobson off-the-ball but the Blues were starting to feel the strain.
Hall got down well to keep out Hughes' shot after Parkin had pulled the back and the Bermudan keeper did even better a few minutes later when he denied Frear from point-blank range.
Pennock perhaps sensed more goals and threw on Kurtis Guthrie and England C international James Norwood but the visitors were about to get some reward.
Rovers half-cleared a cross and the ball fell to Winn and the winger took the ball down before smashing a shot across keeper Sam Russell and into the net on 78 minutes to give his side hope.
Chester threw everything forward in the final 10 minutes with a fantastic 335-strong travelling support urging them on but Forest Green ran the clock down at every opportunity and held on for the win.
Chester FC: Hall, Taylor, Brown, Charnock, Roberts, James, Rooney, Winn, McConville, Mahon (Iwelumo 60), Hobson (Menagh 64).
Subs: Worsnop, Disney, Blake.
Goal: Winn 78.
Booked: Roberts.
Forest Green Rovers: Russell, Pipe, Coles, Oliver, Stokes, Sinclair (Guthrie 70), Wedgbury, Kamdjo, Frear (Norwood 70), Hughes (Rodgers 80), Parkin.
Subs: Kelly, Oshodi.
Goal: Kamdjo 10, Parkin 55.
Booked: Coles.
Referee: Adam Bromley (Plymouth)
Attendance: 1,083.
