Manager Gary Johnson praised his Robins as they staged a stunning late comeback to claim a point in a 3-3 draw with Wycombe Wanderers at Adams Park.
For the second successive season, the teams played out a six-goal thriller in Sky Bet League Two.
Johnson admitted a poor 16-minute spell in the second half had cost Cheltenham as the home went 3-1 up.
But Carl Winchester's low shot and Brian Graham's dramatic leveller in the last minute earned a point.
"We made a good start with a goal from a set play we have worked on. We felt some movement would help and we got that," he said.
"But then we had a 16-minute spell when we have got to game manage a lot better, to make sure we are not out of sight.
"We should have scored a second to make us 2-0. But we didn't and then they had the spell.
"We knew they would come out flying after half-time and Akinfenwa got on things and they had runners.
"The boy (Eberechi) Eze had some runs and we weren't good enough, at the time, to stop him. He scored one and made one.
"But the character we showed was fantastic. We went for it and they were trying to take time out of the game.
"Brian (Graham) scored a great goal to make it 3-3 and Carl had a great strike," he added. "By the end I wanted to go for the 4-3, but both teams had given their all."
Johnson also praised his bench as Harry Pell, Kyle Storer and Jerrel Srllars came on to help spark the fight-back.
"The bench made a big impact," he said. "Pelly with his running, Jerell with his clever play and Stoz to seal it up.
"We sealed it up and get the ball the other end and hope something falls - that is exactly what happened late on.
"If I was a neutral I would have enjoyed the game. But, as I told the boys, as your manager I haven't enjoyed the game but I liked the comeback. We are improving.
"I am proud. We went quiet after that bad 16 minutes, but Winny got us back in and all of a sudden we looked like we could get more."