Four seasons of mid table mediocrity followed, before Cambridge re-emerged as promotion contenders in the 2013–14 season, their second season under the management of Richard Money. They finished second in the Conference National and triumphed 2–1 over Gateshead in the playoff final to end their nine-year exile from the Football League. Money stayed for one more season at the Abbey Stadium, seeing Cambridge take Manchester United to a replay in the third round of the FA Cup, before being succeeded as manager by Shaun Derry.