The points were shared at Whaddon Road as two of the Third Division's mid-table sides battled through a drab encounter.
Before the match Cheltenham chairman Paul Baker had used his programme notes to criticise the club's stay-away fans, but it will take a lot more than this tepid game to bring the missing numbers back to the terraces.
The first half was largely a non-event with the opening shot at goal arriving as late as the 25th minute when Bob Taylor's header was held by goalkeeper Mark Ovendale.
York had the ball in the net twice during the opening 45 minutes, both efforts being ruled out for offside, but Cheltenham goalkeeper Shane Higgs was forced to make a good save shortly before the break when he got down to hold a low shot from Jon Parkin.
The home side applied heavy pressure at the start of the second half with Ovendale diving to save from Paul Brayson and John Finnigan sending a 20-yard drive inches wide.
Despite enjoying the bulk of possession Cheltenham were unable to break down a well-drilled Minstermen defence and found themselves a goal down to a spectacular strike on 77 minutes.
Parkin spun onto the ball at least 35 yards from goal and tried his luck with a speculative shot that had the power and direction to catch Higgs off guard.
Cheltenham winger Martin Devaney had endured a frustrating afternoon but it was his pinpoint cross that produced the equaliser six minutes from time when substitute Damian Spencer headed home at the far post.
A late flourish, then, to a game that had been going nowhere and the Cheltenham chairman was left to hope that the appointment of a new manager later this month will lift the club's fortunes out of the doldrums.
"It was a tremendous strike from Jon Parkin but on balance I think we have to accept that a draw was the fair result," said York boss Chris Brass. "We had to be patient and it was a very disciplined and professional performance but it didn't happen up front again today." Cheltenham manager Bob Bloomer added: "They came and made it very difficult for us and there were not many clear chances in the game. Their goal was a stunner in more ways than one but we carried on going at York and got the reward in the end."