The Imps are struggling in the lower reaches of League Two, but almost pulled off an unlikely win after Chris Herd fired them ahead against the division's runaway leaders.
Chris Dagnall's 70th minute leveller was no more than Dale deserved having pinned the visitors inside their own penalty area for long periods, but Lincoln's defensive strategy proved frustrating for Hill's men and came mighty close to leaving the hosts empty handed.
Hill had no argument with the result: "It was a point gained for us because in the first half we played right into the opposition's strategy.
"They dropped deep quickly and we had too many negative passes in and around the back four and midfield area. We were coming safe-side for the ball and the players have got to recognise that a bit earlier.
"We got our game plan together a bit better in the second half, but they deserved something out for the way they came here and set out their stall.
"They didn't have to try to compete with us to win the match and from their perspective their use of tactics was excellent. It wasn't so much two banks of four as one bank of 10!
"We just did enough to get a point, and every point is essential for the total we need."
ROCHDALE: Fielding 6, McArdle 6, Stanton 7, Dawson 7, T Kennedy 6, Jones 6, Toner 6 (Higginbotham, 64 6), J Kennedy 7, Atkinson 6 (Thompson, 82), Dagnall 6, O'Grady 6. Subs not used: Arthur, Wiseman, Flynn, Obadeyi, Taylor.
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