A Lucy Farrow goal had the Imps in the lead for most of the tie at Fernie Fields but a Fay Noble equaliser saw the points shared in a 1-1 draw.
Goalkeeper Lana Timson was called into action early pulling off a great one-on-one save with her legs to deny Dicks, within the opening two minutes.
Leah Hardy forced a save from home goalkeeper Katie McLean as her left footed shot from inside the area, was held at the near post on seven minutes.
Hardy tested McLean again from range five minuets later after a nice touch from Lauren Nicholson, but the Cobblers’ keeper was equal to the effort.
Jemima Footitt found the top of the net after attempting to lob McLean from the edge of the box after 17 minutes, as the Imps continued to assert themselves on the game.
A beautifully crafted counter-attack from the Imps, saw Farrow’s cross saved by McLean, before Nicholson had an effort blocked off the line, and Brogan Pugh had an effort with the same result, all from close range.
Nicholson forced yet another save from McLean, this time trying to find the net at the near post, but the Cobblers number one was down smartly to parry the ball around the post on 25 minutes.
Bell went close from inside the penalty area, but her curling right-footed effort did not curl enough on 29 minutes flew wide at the near post.
Farrow had another effort blocked after as the Imps continued to dominate proceedings. Faith Horner won the header from the resulting corner, but her effort was too high to trouble McLean.
The Imps broke the deadlock two minutes before the break, as a hard and fair tackle from Hardy fell the way of Lucy Farrow inside the box who made no mistake with the finish. She gave the Imps a deserved lead, finding the bottom left corner.
Millie Quaintance was cautioned a few minutes later for a late tackle in midfield.
City thought they had doubled their lead in added time, but Leah Hardy was judged to be offside before she smashed the ball home.
The Imps had to deal with some pressure at the start of the second half, but despite the hosts having most of the possession, Timson was not tested.
Toni McHamilton was introduced replacing fellow forward Lauren Nicholson in the 62nd minute as the game’s physical side was shown more in the second half.
On 65 minutes, Faith Horner made a lung-busting run on the right wing after winning the ball in her own half, before crossing into a dangerous area. Despite Lucy Farrow getting contact onto the ball, her effort was scuffed whilst under pressure and McLean was able to collect the ball.
Northampton’s Channell was cautioned on 68 minutes for a cynical foul on Chyna McIntosh as the Imps continued to defend well.
Dicks went close for the hosts with just under 20 minutes to play, as a nicely worked cross saw her strike a well-timed volley. Her effort fizzed wide of Lana Timson’s far post.
Holly Wilson replaced goal scorer Lucy Farrow with a quarter of an hour still to play as Lee Mitchell used the last of his three substitutions.
Lana Timson made a fine save from a free-kick Mia Richards, diving to her right to claw the ball away. The follow saw a fine block from two City defenders before the ball rolled out for a goal kick.
The hosts found an equaliser with just over ten minutes with Noble arriving at the back post to tap home and pull the hosts on level terms.
Bell could only fire her shot over for the Cobblers after a nice passing move saw her have time and space on the edge of the penalty area.
Bell was cautioned for pulling down Hardy during a counter-attack, as the Imps kept searching for a way to steal back all three points.
Holly Wilson came close to winning it at the end, as her strike was cleared off the line after Leah Hardy won possession high in the Northampton area.
Timson’s work was not done either as in stoppage time, she made a smart stop to deny substitute Ndefo from close range.
