It was an early Christmas present for the Robins who ran out 1-0 victors over Carlisle United at Brunton Park.
Liam Sercombe scored the only goal of the game just before the half hour mark to bring Darrell Clarke's side within three points of League One safety.
After the win Clarke said:
"For me the result was everything today. The boys were wonded after the game against Leyton Orient but they've come here today ans stood up to the challenge.
"I believe we are now firmly in the fight, two or three months ago we were nowhere near it and now we're there and scrapping away.
"Credit goes to the supporters too. We are very thankful for those who travelled and I wish all our fans a good Christmas."
The Robins were dealt an early blow inside the first five minutes when Will Goodwin was forced off with an injury, being replaced by George Lloyd.
Lloyd would have the ball in net just two minutes later as Rob Street won possesion before releasing the pacy forward.
Liam Sercombe took possesion before poking the ball to Lloyd, but up went the assistant's flag as he rolled the ball home.
Then on the 15 minute mark came a goal disallowed at the other end. Carlisle captain Sam Lavelle's header was met by Jon Mellish at the back post, but once again the flag went up for offside.
The opening goal of the game came on 27 minutes as Lloyd put it on a plate for Sercombe at the back post.
The striker's shot was blocked and as keeper Tom Holy tried to keep the ball in play, he fumbled it allowing Lloyd to square the ball in the area.
Street very nearly got a goal of his own moments before the break, but some good defending from the host saw the striker fire just wide.
Into the second half and this time playing against the strong winds, the Robins had a real battle on their hands.
The hosts came close on 74 minutes when a teasing ball to the back post found a blue shirt, but Liam Smith did well to divert the effort behind.
And they had their best chance late in the day when Luke Southwood let the ball out of his grasp, but some heroic defending from Lewis Freestone ensured the three points went home with Town.
CARLISLE UNITED (4-3-3): Holy; Emmanuel, Lavelle (C), Mellish, Armer; McGeouch (Moxon 62), McCalmont (Butterworth 71), Robinson (Charters 71), Gibson, Garner (Edmondson 62), Plange (Maguire 62). Subs not used: Breeze (Gk), Barclay.
CHELTENHAM TOWN (3-4-2-1): Southwood; Smith, Davies (Bradbury 56), Freestone; Long, Bonds, Pett, Ferry; Sercombe, Street (Keena 81); Goodwin (Lloyd 5). Subs not used: Pardington (Gk), Hammond, Thompson, Butler-Oyedeji.
REFEREE: D Bourne
ATTENDANCE: 7,814 (172 from Cheltenham)