STEPHEN BECK'S early strike saw The New Saints claim the FAW Premier Cup for the first time in their history with a sweet victory at the Newport Stadium.

The Saints had been unhappy at having to make the trip to the Gwent club, but responded with a determined display to lift the trophy and pick up £100,000 in the process.

"It was a massive win for the club as we've now got a full set of trophies," said manager Ken McKenna.

"I felt we dominated the game from start to finish but I'm still baffled as to why we had to play the final here."

The Saints suffered an early scare when Craig Hughes blazed over from eight yards following some defensive hesitation in the goalmouth.

But they produced the game's decisive moment on six minutes when a flowing move saw Scott Ruscoe's diagonal pass from the right find Beck, who broke into the box before steering his 14-yard volley past keeper Mark Ovendale.

Although the Welsh Premier leaders enjoyed the better of the possession, Newport had a couple of promising moments with Dean Holdsworth's header being cleared off the line and Saints keeper Ged Doherty blocking Jason Bowen.

The Saints, courtesy of some neat build-up play, responded with Beck drilling a low shot past the right post from the edge of the box, while John Leah's thumping 30-yarder was turned away by Ovendale.

Chances were in short supply in the second half, although Mike Wilde sliced wide on 55 minutes, John Toner clipped the bar with a header and Wilde's 14-yard chip was turned over by the back-pedalling Ovendale.