Rob Street scored a late equaliser to earn the Imps a deserved point at Stevenage, extending the club's unbeaten run to 26 games.
Ivan Varfolomeev returned to the starting XI after dropping out in the warm-up ahead of last Saturday's win against Orient. Tom Bayliss, who came into the team in place of the Ukrainian, started the afternoon on the bench.
The home side took the lead with just three minutes on the clock. A free-kick from Harvey White was sent into the area, where Carl Piergianni headed it back into the path of Louis Thompson who hit his left-footed shot first-time and watched as it nestled into the bottom left corner.
City had to work hard to create chances against the team with the best defensive record outside the top-two in League One.
It was clear to see why Alex Revell's side conceded few goals, as they got back in numbers and left very few gaps for the Imps to exploit.
They did open Boro up after 17 minutes, and took full advantage. Ryley Towler's diagonal pass from the left found the run of Tendayi Darikwa - despite former Imp Saxon Earley getting a head to the cross - who then drilled home right-footed past Filip Marschall.
The Imps had a foothold, although a couple of crosses from the left came to nothing.
A corner was won after 26 minutes when Jack Moylan cut in from the left to try a shot from inside the area. His effort was blocked and looped up over the bar. The routine saw Ivan Varfolomeev's corner headed back into the six-yard box by Tom Hamer, but Marschall was out quickly to claim the ball.
The home side retook the lead moments later through a smart counter-attack as Matt Phillips stabbed the ball to Dan Kemp, whose first time right-footed cross was met by the head of Jamie Reid through a diving header.
That goal felt harsh on the Imps, who had not given up any chances prior to that, and the visitors threatened to respond quickly as Darikwa sent Oné away down the right but he could not keep the ball in under pressure from Charlie Goode.
A couple of corners from the Imps came to nothing amid some real congestion in the area.
House looked to send Oné through again after he won the ball back inside his own half, but put too much power on his pass.
Stevenage did threaten again themselves as Reid tried a cross from wide on the left, but despite not catching it as intended watched as it bounced off the far post.
There were no changes from either side at the interval, though the Imps were clearly fired up.
A good early move saw Reeco Hackett send in a dangerous cross from the left, with the move resulting in a Moylan shot from the right which was blocked.
Early possession was all in favour of the Imps, with a string of long throws from Tom Hamer causing problems - the home side had expertly avoided conceding throw-ins in dangerous places during the first period.
Moylan, so often the man to provide the moment of magic, provided a great left-wing cross after 53 minutes that just evaded House's head.
Skubala made a treble change just after the hour mark, sending on Street, Alfie Lloyd and Tom Bayliss in place of Oné, House and Bayliss.
Bayliss almost had an instant impact as he went for goal with a spectacular right-footed effort from a central free-kick - it took a good diving save from Marschall to palm the ball away with both hands. Deji Elerewe and Dom Jefferies were sent on in the closing stages as well.
Moylan headed over late on, after a Lloyd cross picked him out well.
It looked like there was to be no way through, but - one minute into the six of time added on - Street lashed home from inside the area to secure a point.
City then pushed for a winner - with Hackett almost heading home from a late Moylan cross.
Ultimately, the spoils were shared and the Imps are back in action on Tuesday night when they visit Doncaster Rovers.
Imps: Wickens, Darikwa (Elerewe, 77), Towler (Jefferies, 77), Hackett, McGrandles, Bradley, Moylan, House (Lloyd, 63), Oné (Street, 63), Hamer, Varfolomeev (Bayliss, 63). Subs not used: Jeacock, Ring.
Boro: Marschall, Piergianni, Kemp, Roberts, Earley (Butler, 90+5), Goode, Pattenden, White, Reid (Sweeney, 87), Thompson (Houghton, 55), Phillips (Lubala, 87). Subs not used: Ashby-Hammond, Campbell, Patterson.
Referee: Neil Hair.
Attendance: 5,647 (1,358 away).
