A method for forming a trench-gated field effect transistor (FET) includes the following steps. Using a first mask, defining and simultaneously forming a plurality of active gate trenches and at least one gate runner trench extending to a first depth within a silicon region such that (i) the at least one gate runner trench has a width greater than a width of each of the plurality of active gate trenches, and (ii) the plurality of active gate trenches are contiguous with the at least one gate runner trench; and using the first mask and a second mask for protecting the at least one gate runner trench, further extending only the plurality of active gate trenches to a second and final depth within the silicon region.