Max Gradel's penalty put the Cherries ahead and Marvin Bartley added a second with a looping volley over Cheltenham keeper Shane Higgs.

But Bournemouth then failed to clear their lines and David Bird swept in a shot to pull one back.

Steve Brooker levelled when he headed in a late Alan Wright cross before Scott Brown was sent-off late on.

Bournemouth: Stewart, Young, Gowling, Pearce, Cummings, Gradel, Bartley, Cooper, Kuffour (Tessem 78), Bradbury, Vokes (Pitman 86).
Subs Not Used: McQuoid, Pryce, Partington.

Booked: Cummings, Gradel.

Goals: Gradel 17 pen, Bartley 39.

Cheltenham: Higgs, Jeremy Gill, Gallinagh, Duff, Wright, Lindegaard (Scott Brown 46), Armstrong (Connor 70), Bird, D Agostino (Vincent 46), Gillespie, Brooker.
Subs Not Used: Scott P Brown, Spencer.

Sent Off: Scott Brown (90).

Booked: Vincent.

Goals: Bird 45, Brooker 89.

Att: 4,365

Ref: Darren Drysdale (Lincolnshire).