City stretched their unbeaten run in the league to nine games with a thrilling game at Luton Town.
Freddie Draper and Rob Street struck in the first-half for the Imps and, while no one likes to drop points having been ahead in a game, the balance of play and impressive character also shown by the home side means the draw - earned for them through Gideon Kodua and Nakhi Wells - was a result everyone could leave Kenilworth Road content with.
Head coach Michael Skubala made one change to the starting XI, with Jack Moylan coming back into the side.
The game was end-to-end from the opening minutes, with Adam Reach getting a tempting cross in for Draper as early as the second minute. The delivery was just too high for the forward.
Emilio Lawrence fired over for the home side, and Gideon Kodua headed wide from a Liam Walsh cross as Luton - who had won three of their past for league outings - started with confidence.
But the Imps started to take control, with only an offside flag stopping Draper getting through on goal and Street just unable to get away from Mads Andersen.
The growing influence of the Imps saw them take the lead after 11 minutes. Moylan collected a pass from Reach then created space for himself out on the left wing, cutting inside before delivering a right-wing delivery to the far post.
Reeco Hackett and Draper were both coming in at the far post, with the ball landing perfectly for the latter to head home - the 24th time this season City have got the opening goal in a game.
The home side showed plenty of character, though, as Hamer and Darikwa were quickly called on for key blocks.
Lawrence got two more shots away, too. The first had all the power taken off it thanks to the combined efforts of Reach and Bradley, while the latter was a powerful long-range shot that George Wickens could only palm away. Kodua was first to the rebound but, with Wickens positioned centrally in the goal to close the angles, could only life his effort over.
Street doubled City's advantage, and it was no surprise that it came from a set-piece. The free-kick was won by Draper, fouled by Kai Naismith, close to the byline out on the right.
Hackett's deep delivery was met by Hamer who leapt highest to head the ball back into the six-yard box, where Street got ahead of his man to turn the ball home from close range.
The home side were never going to roll over, and there was a warning for the Imps after 31 minutes when Naismith headed wide from a corner. Four minutes later a similar set-piece resulted in Kodua heading home from a similar position - with Andersen the effective blocker for the home side as he manhandled a number of Imps players out the way to create space.
The home side unexpectedly had most of the possession for the remainder of the opening half, although they were largely kept out of the area by the Imps.
Unfortunately they levelled just before the break without needing to enter the area in the move, as Naismith found Nakhi Wells with space in the middle of the park. He turned quickly and, before any Imps players had time to close him down, drove a powerful shot which found the far left of the goal past the outstretched arm of Wickens.
Skubala made one change at the break, sending on Dom Jefferies in place of Varfolomeev.
City started the second period well, with danger from a Moylan free-kick early after the restart which was eventually cleared. Bradley had stayed up in the area from that set-piece and, when the ball made its way back up towards him, his header almost set Draper up for a shot - he just could not get his toe onto it and Josh Keeley grateful collected the ball.
The home side also looked dangerous as both teams aggressively tried to get ahead in the game. Wells will have felt he should have done better with his header, from a smart left-wing Bramall cross from a central position in the area went over.
Johnson also saw a shot deflected behind for a corner, after some incredible footwork from Kodua to get away from several Imps players and get the ball through to him.
City defended that corner well and threatened on the counter as Draper tried to play Jefferies through on goal, but the pace of Bramall meant he was able to get to the ball first.
Wickens had to be alert to hold a Liam Walsh shot from distance, it was a well struck effort which was well held by the visiting keeper.
A free-kick conceded by Hamer for a foul on Wells with 20 minutes to goal sparked a frantic few moments. The set-piece was taken by Bramall and hit Hackett in the Imps' wall before coming off a home defender and going behind. The referee Scott Oldham did not see the second nick of the ball - there were many players blocking his line of sight - and awarded a home corner.
Wickens punched the ball behind from that set-piece, but from the next corner the ball ended up in the back of the net with a number of home players at the far post bundling the ball home.
It seemed that the goal was going to be given, with several Hatters players well into a corner in celebration before any signal from the officials.
The closing stages continued to see both sides going at it, with tiring legs from both sides meaning the quality slipped.
Ryley Towler, on as a substitute in the closing stages, brought a stunning save out of Keeley as he flicked a Reach delivery towards goal - the ball looked destined for the far corner before Keeley's outstretched hand got to it.
City finished strongly and Bradley nodded a head just wide from a corner, while Street also saw a shot blocked.
In the end both sides took plenty of credit for their contributions to a thrilling match with a deserved point each.
Luton: Keeley, Johnson, Naismith, Andersen, Lonwijk, Bramall, Walsh, Kodua (Richards, 76), Clark, Lawrence (Morris, 60), Wells (Yates, 89). Subs not used: Makosso, Saville, Shea, Walters.
Imps: Wickens, Darikwa, Reach, Hackett (Towler, 86), Moylan (Ring, 68), McGrandles, Bradley, Street, Hamer, Varfolomeev (Jefferies, 45), Draper. Subs not used: Jeacock, Pardington, Montsma, Okewoye.
Official: Scott Oldham
Attendance: 11,238 (1,354 away)