RUNCORN were fighting a losing battle from an early stage of this UniBond League Premier Division match.
Table-topping North Ferriby were two goals up inside eight minutes.
The Linnets did fight their way back into the contest but were made to pay heavily for individual errors.
By the 70th minute, the East Yorkshire side had doubled their lead. Runcorn were rewarded by two Lee Furlong goals in the last nine minutes but, in between the consolation efforts, they had midfieldman Colin Flood sent off for his second bookable foul to cap a desperate afternoon.
Chris Coupe and Joel Hartley had scored early for North Ferriby with veteran assistant player-manager Paul Burns at fault for both goals.
Runcorn picked themselves up and had enough chances to have gone into half-time level with Furlong seeing a goal disallowed for handball just before the break.
Any lingering doubt was removed on the hour though when substitute Joe Light-owler shrugged off Billy Robertson's attentions through the middle to fire home in style.
And nine minutes later, Coupe bagged his second from a left-wing cross.
RUNCORN: Holcroft, Hunter (McInerney 70), Burns, Robertson, Sidankay, Flood, Taylor, Scott, Furlong, Lamb (Potter 46), Locke. Sub: Forster.
