On loan teenage striker Chris Brown snatched a precious point for Doncaster with virtually the last kick of the match.
The third division leaders looked to be heading for a rare home defeat until Brown struck in opportunist style in the third minute of stoppage time.
Rovers just about deserved to share the spoils after doing most of the attacking but they were way below their best in a match spoiled by a blustery wind and a torrential downpour.
Conditions were difficult for both sides but Cheltenham were content to sit back and soak up the pressure leaving Damien Spencer as a lone striker playing with five men in midfield.
Doncaster were first to threaten when Michael McIndoe headed just wide in the fifth minute following a corner from John Melligan.
Three minutes later, a route one attack led to another chance for McIndoe but he volleyed wide from 20 yards after Brown had headed on a long kick from keeper Andy Warrington.
Melligan went close with an overhead kick following a neat move involving several players as Doncaster began to get their act together.
But a scrappy period followed before there was a scare for Cheltenham when John Brough made a present of the ball to Gregg Blundell but the Rovers' top scorer was unable to take advantage.
Doncaster should have gone in front in the 17th minute after Ricky Ravenhill and Brown had carved out a chance for Melligan who blasted the ball wide of the post.
Little was seen of the Cheltenham attack in the first half and their only threat came when Brough headed a corner just over the top in the 28th minute.
But they made up for lost time after the interval when they snatched a goal out of the blue in the 50th minute.
Rovers were caught napping when Martin Devaney cut inside from the right and unleashed a cracking left-foot shot which flew into the top corner from 20 yards.
The home side pushed more and more players forward but Brown was unlucky to see a shot cleared off the line by Jerry Gill before McIndoe headed over the bar from point-blank range.
Just when it looked as if Doncaster were beaten, Brown struck from the edge of the box to pinch a precious point which keeps Doncaster on course for promotion.