RUNCORN moved into the top half of the Nationwide North League table with three well-taken goals against Gainsborough Trinity.
Their task was made easier when their Lincolnshire hosts were reduced to ten men as early as the fourth minute.
Nicky Young's through ball to Danny Byrne saw him bear down on goal, only to be tripped by Neil Allison.
Referee Mark Lever consulted his assistant before dismissing the Trinity skipper.
Yet it was the home side who created more of the chances, deservedly taking the lead in the 25th minute. Simon Bird's corner was headed towards goal by Richard Pell, leading scorer Lee Ellington getting the final touch.
Four minutes later, however, Runcorn were level.
Young started the move with a pass to Karl Brown, his cross finding Byrne in space who smashed his shot high into the roof of the net.
Six minutes before the break, Runcorn took the lead when Young cleverly smashed home a Matty McGinn cross.
Gainsborough fought back within two minutes of the interval, with Bird volleying home.
But Lee Parle won the game, firing home from the edge of the penalty area with 25 minutes left
GAINSBOROUGH: Holmshaw, Purkiss (Smith 54), Burley, Allison, Pell, Sherlock, Wood (Wood 50), Bird, Ellington (Grant 71), Staton, Caudwell. Subs: Hurst, Scaife.
RUNCORN: McMillan, Carragher, McGinn, Moore, Robertson (Nolan 78), Ness (Wright 24; sub Durkan 72), Brown, Parle, Young, Byrne, Courtney. Subs: Rendall, Lock.
REFEREE: Mr M Lever (Leicestershire).
