LINNETS toasted one over the eight in the North West Counties League's Division Two Cup to leave Gabriels nursing another massive hangover, writes Dave Bettley.
Castleton had already been beaten 5-0 away by Runcorn in the league but their improved form had suggested a much tougher contest.
For a second time in the campaign, Steve Carragher's men had been forced to forgo home advantage in a cup-tie due to temporary landlords Witton being in action at Wincham Park.
But the outcome was vastly different -although the referee was the same.
In October's North West Counties League Challenge Cup tie at Holker Old Boys, Linnets ended up with eight men -after three sendings off - and beaten 2-1 in extra-time.
A few hearts must have missed a beat when they arrived to find Mr M Green again taking charge.
But this time Runcorn's discipline was improved. They didn't pick up even a booking at the compact Butterworth Park ground Castleton share with Roch-dale Mayfield ARLFC.
It was Gabriels who felt the wrath of the middle man as two players received their marching orders.
As was the case with Runcorn up in Cumbria, where Linnets were more upset with other decisions, there could be no argument with the dismissals. Both were for desperate fouls on the last defender.
The red cards had no influence on the result but inevitably had a bearing on the margin of Linnets' victory
Runcorn were already 2-0 up by the time the order of the early bath went to Andy Pugby for his goal-thwarting challenge on Thomas Lamb.
That was after 41 minutes and there was still time before the break for Lamb and Mick Young to double Runcorn's advantage - opened by Paul Scott (24 minutes) and the first of Colin Flood's brace a minute later.
Flood and Young's efforts emanated from defensive howlers born out of panic. Young, in particular, was a constant menace to Castleton's overworked, and ultimately short-handed, rearguard with his uncanny ability to beat two men at a time.
One such instance culminated in skip-per Scott unselfishly squaring for Lamb to get his 16th of the season in the 48th minute.
While Runcorn had enjoyed most of the pressure before taking the lead, Gabriels had come closest to breaking the deadlock.
Robbie Holcroft needed to be at his best to divert a low snapshot away and then Brad Barrington rattled the bar from a free-kick from the right of the box.
The fifth Runcorn goal heralded another mini-spell which yielded two more more than acceptable Castleton chances but the tie was gone by then.
With the home side a player short, Steve Carragher could well afford to make a triple substitution with more than half an hour left.
Chances continued to flow freely for Runcorn, who could easily have reached double figures for a second time in their brief existence.
Their sixth goal came in the 63rd minute from the penalty spot after Curtis Ward had become the second Gabriels player to walk for tripping Jamie Swales from behind.
The ninth was scored with 10 minutes still left - Jamie Swales being set up by his brother and fellow sub Scott for a diving header.
In between, Scott Swales had produced a stunning left-foot finish high into the far left corner to make it 7-0 after 68 minutes - having fielded the rebound to his own shot from virtually on the dead-ball line.
But the eighth was the goal of the match - a solo effort from Colin Quirk.
He had defenders and then the keeper falling literally at his feet. None were able to read his mind, nor stop him meandering towards an eventually open goal.
Gabriels found 82nd-minute solace when Holcroft was beaten at the near post, direct from a free-kick which found a gap in the defensive wall.
Linnets: Holcroft, Newell, Parle, O'Driscoll, Boden, Rollinson (Edwards 57), Quirk, Flood, Lamb (S Swales 57), Scott (J Swales 57), Young.
Attendance: 115.
