Ben House's first-half finish, to cap off a brilliant team move, earned City a point at Peterborough United and extended the strong start to the league season.
Head coach Michael Skubala made two changes, with Tom Hamer and Conor McGrandles returning to the starting XI.
The home side's possession-based tactics meant they saw plenty of the ball in the opening exchanges, but City saw that out with only Kwame Poku's seventh-minute shot - which was deflected wide - to show for it.
City first threatened after 14 minutes when House nearly got on the end of a long clearance from George Wickens, but Jed Steer was out quickly to collect.
A successful high press from the Imps meant they often hemmed Posh back and won the ball in the final third, creating opportunities.
The first clear chance from this came after 17 minutes when the ball was won back on the right, with Tom Bayliss running at the home defence before trying a low shot which curled away from the goal.
And a couple of minutes later Jovon Makama went close, again after the ball had been won back high up the pitch.
Although the home side had plenty of the ball, City had carved the better opportunities. Wickens, though, had to remain alert and was out quickly to punch away a cross from Poku from a free-kick wide on the right.
Wickens was again equal to home captain Hector Kyprianou's attempted near-post finish after a well-worked free-kick, which saw Poku playing the defender through. Wickens palmed the ball away.
And moments later Jadel Katongo almost got the home side ahead with a glancing header. He did brilliantly to get on the end of Jack Sparkle's left-wing cross, but did not connect enough with the ball to turn it towards the target.
If that was the best chance of the match to that point, it was surpassed by the sublime move which saw City go ahead after 33 minutes.
The Imps kept possession of the ball for well over a minute as they patiently probed the home area, before House smartly steered home Jefferies' cross from the left.
House almost doubled City's lead before the interval, with the chance again coming after the Imps had won the ball back high up the pitch. Makama was dispossessed as he ran at the home defence with the ball falling to House who tried to curl a low effort into the far right corner but Steer saw it coming and got well behind the ball.
Neither side made any change at the break, but as the match approached the hour mark both head coaches opted to send on fresh legs.
Jack Moylan, Erik Ring and Bailey Cadamarteri all came on, with Makama, Bailey and Jefferies making way. The home side also made four changes at the same time.
Moylan almost made an instant impact as he got away down the right and sent in a cross for House. The angle was too tight for City's No.18 who tried to pull the ball back for Cadamarteri, but it was well cleared.
Moments later House found himself through but Steer did well to stand up and block the effort.
The home side drew themselves level after 64 minutes when Poku cut inside from the right and drilled home powerfully into the bottom left corner.
City were forced into another change after 75 minutes, when keeper Wickens took a heavy knock during a challenge and had to be replaced by Zach Jeacock.
City defended valiantly in the final stages, despite the home side enjoying plenty of possession, and looked threatening on the counter-attack.
Cadamarteri went close when he broke away after turning the last man, but Steer was equal to his finish, and Draper also got away but referee Tom Reeves ruled he was fairly challenged when when he went over in the area.
Imps: George Wickens (Zach Jeacock, 75), Tendayi Darikwa, Tom Hamer, Adam Jackson (c), Sean Roughan, Dom Jefferies, Ethan Erhahon, Conor McGrandles, Tom Bayliss (Jack Moylan, 58), Ben House (Freddie Draper, 79), Jovon Makama (Bailey Cadamarteri, 58). Subs not used: Lewis Montsma, JJ McKiernan.
Posh: Jed Steer, Sam Curtis, Archie Collins (Donay O'Brien-Brady, 86), Oscar Wallin (Emmanuel Fernandez, 59), Abraham Odoh (Malik Mothersille, 59), Kwame Poku, Joel Randall (Chris Conn-Clarke, 59), Ricky-Jade Jones (Bradley Ihlonvien, 59), Jack Sparkles, Hector Kyprianou (c), Jadel Katonga. Subs not used: Nicholas Bilokapic, James Dornelly.
Referee: Tom Reeves
Attendance: 9,537 (1,674)
