French midfielder Atangana, 25, netted his first professional goal for Pompey's 56th minute equaliser, but then revealed his distress at learning of the tragic death of close pal Aurelia Taton, also 25. He said:
"I lost a very good friend last week. She died in a car crash on Sunday night. She was a school friend of mine and would always call me after games to ask me whether I had played or scored.
"I scored in a reserve game on Tuesday and again today and so they are for her, she was a beautiful person.
"I'm a Christian and I prayed to God that I would score in her memory and so when I scored, that was the main reason I was happy."
Atangana is relieved that Aurelia's faith in him is finally paying off. He revealed:
"I signed for Havant at the end of October last year and it was a very good move as I scored goals. I had to take my chance, I think it was my last chance.
"I tried to make it in France and Spain, so when a big club like Portsmouth signed me it was very exciting. It's a very big club and I know that if they hadn't had problems, they wouldn't have been in this division and I wouldn't have got this chance. I really want to repay them."
Boss Andy Awford was pleased with the point, but needed confirmation from the Pompey faithful and explained:
"I didn't realise it had gone in unto our supporters behind the goal started jumping up and down."
Omari Sterling-James, 21, also scored his first senior goal to give the Robins a 42nd minute lead and had the chance of a brace moments before Atangana's leveller, but the striker said:
"I've been waiting for my first professional goal and I'm happy I've scored it, but I'm a bit disappointed because I thought we should've won the game. If I'd scored another then they wouldn't have, so it's about fine margins."
Cheltenham manager Paul Buckle watched his side draw their third league game on the bounce and stop the rot that cost predecessor Mark Yates his job and said:
"What we're seeing is a more resilient Cheltenham, but I'm not used to drawing this much as I always set out to win."
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