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The Imps had all the possession but could not find a way through a packed Carlisle defence which defended resolutely throughout if the face of a continual aerial onslaught from the Lincoln Football Air Force.
And as United grew in confidence they always looked capable of sneaking a winner on the break.
The Blues started in the formation that they used in their last away game at Burnley with Karl Hawley this time playing as the lone striker upfront and Paul Simpson, Brendan McGill, Peter Murphy, Adam Murray and Chris Billy strung across the midfield. The back five kept their places after the Northampton defeat apart from at right-back where Lee Andrews replaced the injured Paul Arnison.
Lincoln went at the Blues right from the start and could have scored after just three minutes when Colin Cryan picked out Gary Birch with a deep cross but the striker saw his header tipped over by Anthony Williams.
Three minutes later Nat Brown fed Derek Asamoah who cut in and fired in a low shot which Williams saved at his near post.
A superb save by Williams prevented Lincoln from taking the lead in the 15th minute. Midfielder Scott Kerr crossed for Brown whose downward header looked a certain goal until "Taff" somehow scooped it off the line and over the bar to bring back memories of Gordon Banks and Pele in the 1970 World Cup in Mexico.
The lively Asamoah was causing the Blues defence plenty of problems with his movement and in the 36th minute his cross found Marvin Robinson whose overhead kick was kept out by Williams who was having a good game for United.
The Blues finally ventured forward in the 38th minute and from their first corner almost grabbed the lead. Lincoln failed to clear their lines and the ball came out to Zigor Aranalde whose powerful left-foot shot smashed against the post to leave the 455 strong travelling Blue Army disappointed.
As United had their first small but sustained period of pressure in the game Kevin Gray chipped a pass into the Lincoln box but Hawley just failed to connect with the through ball.
The Blues had a couple of scares shortly before the break as firstly a shot from Asamoah was fumbled by Williams but no Lincoln player was near enough to take advantage, then in first-half stoppage time, the Imps appeared to be denied a clear-cut penalty when Robinson was wrestled to the ground by Blues skipper Kevin Gray but fortunately for Carlisle referee Darren Deadman looked to be unsighted and United got a let off.
A great 49th minute save by Williams kept out Robinson but United increasingly pulled men back to frustrate Lincoln and even wasted a chance or two on the break. One break in particular saw Hawley passing to Simpson whose ball in was headed straight at Lincoln keeper Alan Marriott by McGill. The goal-getter Simmo is looking for would surely have been selfish enough to shoot at that point and Hawley must learn to hit the ball when he has the chance if he wants to score more goals. Then in the 67th minute Murphy got in a good cross and McGill forced his way past his marker only to head wide. Soon after Billy won a challenge outside the box and set up McGill but the diminutive midfielder hit his shot right into Marriott’s gloves.
United survived a late scare as a free-kick from the edge of the box was blazed over the bar by Dean Keates but by that point Lincoln had run out of the one idea they had as United defended stoutly against a long-ball masterclass from the home side.
So the Blues head home with a hard-earned away point in their pocket from one of the more difficult venues in the division and you have to feel that a United side of three or four years ago would have folded under the aerial bombardment and that gives great testament to the way the Carlisle defence has played over the last year. All roads lead to Bury on Friday evening and United will be hoping for a win against the Shakers who currently occupy 22nd place after losing four of their first six league games this season with the winning goal hopefully coming from a recently signed-up striker.