Steven Gillespie gave Cheltenham the lead with 12 minutes left when he stole in at the far post to volley home David Bird's free-kick.

Brighton looked to be on their way out of the cup after failing to make their first-half superiority count.

But they snatched a deserved draw when Loft drove home after Cheltenham could only half-clear Bas Savage's cross.

Cheltenham: Higgs, Jeremy Gill, Caines, Duff, Wright, Vincent (Reid 85), Bird, Connolly, Spencer, Gillespie, Connor (Yao 51).
Subs Not Used: Scott P Brown, Gallinagh, Wylde.

Goals: Gillespie 78.

Brighton: Kuipers, Whing, El-Abd, Elphick (Butters 65), Richards, Robinson (Elder 81), Fraser (Loft 84), Hammond, Cox, Savage, Forster.
Subs Not Used: Sullivan, Reid.

Booked: Whing, Hammond.

Goals: Loft 90.

Att: 2,984