Matt Cox was denied a deserved clean sheet on his senior debut by a 92nd-minute Portsmouth equaliser on Saturday.
The goalkeeper went straight into Bristol Rovers’ starting XI for their Sky Bet League One clash at Fratton Park.
Rovers took a 24th-minute lead through Luke Thomas but were forced to defend for long periods after the break. Cox made one outstanding save to deny Joe Rafferty but there was nothing he could do as Kusini Yengi nodded home a stoppage-time leveller.
Tristan Crama was an unused substitute for the Gas who head to Ipswich Town in the Carabao Cup first round on Tuesday night.
Sky Bet League One
Also in the third tier, Paris Maghoma made a winning start at Bolton Wanderers, playing the final 12 minutes of a 3-0 opening-day victory at home to Lincoln City.
Jack Iredale put the home side ahead after four minutes with the game wrapped up after the break through Victor Adeboyejo and a Paudie O’Connor own goal.
Bolton host Barrow in the EFL Cup on Tuesday night.
Ryan Trevitt also enjoyed his league debut for Exeter City with the Grecians’ registering a comfortable win at Wycombe Wanderers.
Jack Aitchison scored the fastest goal of the EFL season to put Exeter ahead after 24 seconds with Will Aimson doubling that advantage inside four minutes.
Sam Nombe also missed an early penalty as Exeter threatened to run riot. As it was, it took until the 83rd minute for James Scott to add a third.
Trevitt played the full 90 minutes on his EFL debut. Exeter host Crawley Town in the EFL Cup on Tuesday night.
Sky Bet League Two
Daniel Oyegoke’s Bradford City debut ended after 41 minutes as the defender received two yellow cards in 10 minutes at Crawley Town.
The hosts were a goal to the good at the time through Will Wright’s 14th-minute strike and that was how it ended.
Oyegoke will be suspended for Bradford’s League Cup tie at Accrington Stanley.
National League South
Ben Winterbottom was on the end of 5-2 defeat on his Welling United debut.
The National League South trip to Truro City started on a difficult note with the home side scoring three goals in the opening 20 minutes.
Welling pulled one back on the half hour but conceded twice more before the break to put the game beyond reach.
Welling host Hemel Hempstead in the league at Park View Road on Saturday.