SCOTT Ruscoe's stunning winner in the last minute of extra-time gained The New Saints some small consolation for missing out on the league title as they lifted the league cup for the third year in a row.
A penalty shoot-out was just seconds away when Llanelli cleared a cross only as far as the midfielder, who hit a superb first-time shot past stunned keeper Ashley Morris.
It was a goal worthy of winning a match at any level but, in a game where both sides found ball control difficult on a hard pitch and with a strong end-to-end wind, there were several others to savour.
With several regulars sidelined by injury, several fringe players were handed starts and youngsters Connell Rawlinson and Marcus Giglio both excelled, although Chris Sharp was awarded man-of-the-match.
The Saints had deservedly broken the first-half deadlock three minutes before the break when Sharp saw his effort from a Giglio cross saved, but Aeron Edwards blasted the rebound home from 12 yards.
The Reds took advantage of the wind to pressure in the second half and a Jordan Follows shot bound for the top corner was well-saved by Paul Harrison.
Llanelli thought they had equalised when evergreen Andy Legg's long throw from almost the halfway line eluded everyone in the box, but the effort was ruled out.
TNS looked to have sealed the win when Sharp fired a goal from an Edwards pass on 73 minutes, but the Reds refused to lie down and Jason Bowen's cross was headed on by Stuart Jones for Chris Holloway to head in at the far post.
Craig Moses drew the scores level with another fine shot on 87 minutes, but there was more drama to come.
Sharp headed home a Craig Jones cross with one minute remaining only for Jordan Follows to take the game into extra-time with an immediate 20-yarder which curled away from Harrison inside the post.
Morris made a good diving save early in extra-time and Harrison did well to keep out a shot from sub Adam Orme. But, with Llanelli starting to dominate, Ruscoe's late effort was too late for another comeback from Legg's men.
Photo: The celebrations begin for Ruscoe's winner with Craig Jones, Alex Darlington and Marcus Giglio in on the act.