New boys on target as Robins earn draw
Rickie Lambert's first half penalty and Jeff Hughes' well crafted strike put League One Rovers 2-0 up and the Robins looked set to lose their unbeaten run this summer.
But Denton was set up by Cheltenham's most recent acquisition, Oliver Bozanic, in the 59th minute and Richards slammed home the leveller with 12 minutes left.
Bozanic, who arrived on a six-month loan deal from Reading this week, showed an early touch of class, jinking past a defender before sliding a pass towards Denton, but it was beyond the tall striker.
Lambert curled a free-kick over the bar, but former Rovers favourite Barry Hayles almost opened the scoring for Cheltenham in the 12th minute.
Goalkeeper Steve Phillips raced off his line to deal with a through ball from Bozanic only for his attempted clearance to strike Hayles and roll wide.
A fine cross from Bozanic had Phillips flapping, but Hayles was denied by a last gasp challenge from Stuart Campbell.
Darryl Duffy lifted a chance over the advancing Scott Brown, but it dropped inches wide and Brown deflected a powerful drive from right-back Carl Regan over the bar in the 32nd minute.
David Hutton set up Pook on the overlap, but his shot was straight at Phillips and Rovers opened the scoring 10 minutes before half-time.
Jo Kuffour lifted the ball across goal to Lambert, who had found space at the far post. He brought it down well to take it away from Lee Ridley, who tripped him and a penalty was awarded.
Lambert, who netted 29 goals last term including three against Cheltenham, lashed home from the spot and Rovers remained one up at the break.
Denton almost got off the mark in the 51st minute when he leapt to meet Michael Pook's cross, but Phillips made a fine save to push the ball away.
Rovers doubled their advantage three minutes later when Kuffour exchanged passes with Hughes twice, carving Cheltenham open and allowing Hughes to apply a delicate finish over Brown.
Denton showed that there is more to his game than heading ability when he showed composure in the box to receive Bozanic's cross before switching the ball onto his right foot and placing a neat low finish past Phillips.
Denton was then heavily involved in the equaliser, powering a header towards goal from Bozanic's corner that was cleared off the line, but Richards followed up to net his first goal since arriving from Kidderminster. Only a good save from Phillips denied Richards a second at the death.
CHELTENHAM TOWN: S Brown; D Bird (J Low 75), M Townsend, S Duff (c), L Ridley; D Hutton (J Richards 63), M Pook, A Gallinagh, O Botanic (M Watkins 83); T Denton (J Alsop 83), B Hayles (E Hammond 63). Subs not used: J Tabor, J Durrant, W Puddy.
BRISTOL ROVERS: S Phillips; C Regan (A Lescott 46), S Elliott, B Anthony, J Hughes; D Pipe (C Reece 46), C Lines, S Campbell, D Duffy (A Williams 70); J Kuffour (B Swallow 70), R Lambert (S Rigg 70). Sub not used: M Green.
REFEREE: S A Hooper (Wiltshire).
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