Promotion-chasing Torquay saw a two-goal lead snatched from them in a break neck west country derby.
Rovers' fight-back was expected to be the last match for caretaker boss Phil Bater. He has seen only 1 win in 11 matches in charge but if this was his final match he went out on a high note.
The game was watched by Oxford boss Ian Atkins from the directors box as Rovers recovered their fans faith after a 4-0 drubbing at Yeovil on Saturday.
There were seven bookings - only two of them for Torquay - but a highly competitive match was never over physical.
Jo Kuffour with two goals in the first 17 minutes shaped to destroy Rovers with his lively running on the left flank.
His marker Sonny Parker hardly got in a challenge but ended his side's hero with a brilliant header to level the scores early in the second half.
Rovers began with three at the back which left Parker uncertain of his role on the left side of his midfield.
He was twice caught defensively as the Devon club stormed into their lead. The first strike for Kuffour came in the fifth minute when he was allowed a free run and shot after Rovers had been opened up by a long cross from Reuben Hazell.
The second goal looked even more disastrous. Kuffour pushed the ball between Parkes legs rounded him and got in a near post shot which took something of a deflection off Christian Edwards.
Lee Matthews began Rovers comeback sliding a pass forward to Paul Tait who rounded keeper Kevin Dearden before pushing a shot inside the near post.
The equaliser was even more unexpected, set up by Gary Twigg a 19-year-old full-back Rovers have borrowed from Derby.
His deep cross from the left saw Parker race in for a header and his first ever league goal.
He ripped off his shirt and ran around the pitch in delight but didn't see out the game being substituted with 13 minutes left.
Torquay were denied a win in the 88th minute when home keeper Kevin Miller got down well to block a free kick from sub Kevin Wills.