Cheltenham Town yet again came back from a two goal deficit to salvage a point against an urgent looking Torquay United outfit at Whaddon road this afternoon.  Just as he had done at Swansea, Mark Yates powered in the equaliser in the dying moments when all appeared lost for the Robins.

As had been expected, Steve Cotterill decided to rest Jamie Victory and brought Keith Hill into the starting line-up, with Richard Walker at left back.  Michael Duff began on the right of midfield, with Neil Howarth slotting into to right back.

Things started badly for the Robins when, after 5 minutes, Alex Russell put the visitors in front with a falling left foot drive across Carl Muggleton form a Steve Tulley cross from the right.  It was a good goal but the ball had been pinging around the box long before the chance arose.  The Robins came close after 15 minutes when a cross from the left was headed towards his own goal by Torquay's Steve Wood.  The ball eluded Torquay's diminuative keeper Kevin Dearden, smacked against the bar and rebounded to Mark Yates who shot over.  Suddenly the Robins went 2 goals behind for the third game running when, in the 21st minute, the ball broke to David Graham on the left after Keith Hill's tackle on Alex Russell on the edge of the box.  Graham powered in a shot from 15 yards with Muggleton well beaten.  At this stage the Robins looked disjointed but in the 32nd minute Steve Cotterill changed things around by relacing Walker with Victory and Howarth with Devaney.  Immediately the Robins looked more purposeful.  Within 3 minutes the lads had pulled a goal back.  Obstruction on Tony Naylor on the edge of the box led to a free kick, quickly taken by Yates to Milton who smashed the ball into the back of the net with Dearden well beaten.  Four minutes later a long, teasing run into the box by Devaney almost brought an equaliser but somehow the Torquay defence kept the ball out.  Five minutes before half time Devaney was mysteriously booked by referee Penton.

Half time  Cheltenham Town 1  Torquay Utd 2

Cheltenham began the second half brightly and a superb cross to the far post by Michael Duff found Martin Devaney in space.  Devaney's header went wide when Mark Yates looked in a better position.  Torquay had a sweeping move on the break after 53 minutes but David Woozley shot high, wide and handsome when well placed.  From then on it was mostly all Cheltenham who huffed and puffed but couldn't seem to blow the Torquay house down.  Devaney had a goal disallowed for off-side after Yates had mishit a shot into his path.  Naylor shot tamely at Dearden after 65 minutes and then had a goal wiped out for off-side ten minutes later.  Then Jamie Victory had a shot from Milton's cross saved by the United keeper.  Five minutes from the end Cotterill brought on Gareth Hopkins as a last throw of the dice.  With time fast running out Mark Yates appeared from nowhere on the left side of the box and powered in a deserved equaliser to bring the house down.

Cheltenham Town: Muggleton: Howarth (Devaney 33), Banks, Hill (Hopkins 85), Walker (Victory 32); M.Duff, Yates, Howells, Milton; Naylor, Grayson
Other subs Higgs, White
Torquay United: Dearden; McNeil, Woods, Woozley; Tully, Brandon (Grayling 68), Rees, Hill; Graham (Russell L 90 mins), Roach (Parker 64 mins)
Attendance: 3,167
Referee: Mr C Penton (Sussex)