Appliance Traders Limited (ATL) Group outclassed favourites GraceKennedy in the final of the Scotiabank/KSA Business House Knock-Out competition to win 3-0 at Winchester Park on Sunday.

It was the first lien on the trophy for ATL, who lost in the final to Carib Cement two years ago.

Goals from Troy Reid, Jamoy Sibblies and De’Andre Brown gave the Jerome Waite-coached team a deserved win over the highly fancied former champions.

Despite starting as the underdogs, ATL took the game to GraceKennedy, making a number of raids on their opponents’ goal, through the duo of Reid and Sibblies, that kept goalkeeper Diego Haughton busy.

Dale McBean should have put GraceKennedy ahead when he was clean in on goal but failed to bring the ball under control in time, allowing goalkeeper Leon Taylor to block the eventual shot with his legs.

ATL were up the other end in a flash and a blazing effort from Curtis Taylor went just over the crossbar, with Haughton beaten all ends up.

The boys in blue were then given an opportunity to get the first goal of the game when Sibblies was upended inside the box, leaving referee Malica Reid with no choice but to point to the penalty spot. Reid’s effort from 12 yards was superb as he blasted the ball into the roof of the net, leaving Haughton rooted to the spot.

ATL took their lead into the half-time break and started the second half the same way they ended the first, on the front foot.

Reid pinched the ball off the GraceKennedy captain Karet Hosang before driving into the box and getting a shot off that clipped the crossbar before going behind for a goal kick.

GraceKennedy midfielder Nicholy Finlayson then had two chances in quick succession to draw his team level. First, his goal-bound downward header from a corner kick was tipped over the bar by Taylor on the bounce before he showed some fancy feet to get by a pair of defenders, creating some space for himself to get a shot off, but his effort went just wide.

Substitute Marlon Thompson then missed the easiest of chances to score for GraceKennedy when he shot wide from 10 yards. That miss would prove to be crucial.

Moments later, Sibblies doubled his team’s lead when he got a shot off before Hosang could block his looping effort over the advancing Haughton to give ATL a decisive 2-0 advantage.

Second half substitute De’Andre Brown then put the icing on the cake when he nodded home a left-sided cross from Reid from four yards out into an empty net as GraceKennedy were caught cold on the counter attack.

The final whistle was met with joyous celebrations as ATL, who were promoted to the top division at the start of the season, showed they belong among the big boys.

Jerome Waite believed the final was won on tactics and execution.

“Today it was really a good tactical game from both teams. We watched them in the semi-finals and as a result of that we saw what their fire power was all about. So it was a matter of nullifying their offence and utilising the counter-attack.”

He praised Sibblies for his efforts on what was undoubtedly the goal of the game.

“On the second goal it was sheer talent that made the difference. Sibblies collected the long pass from deep in defence and he received it on his chest, put it down and executed from about 35 yards out.

“It was a good overall performance from the ATL Group,” he noted.

Waite was obviously delighted to put the ghosts of two seasons past behind him.

“I am a stalwart in the Business House; this is our third year playing in the Business House under coach Waite. the first year we lost the knock-out final, (today) we cleared over the final hurdle…in fine style.”

Stephen Chen, manager for the GraceKennedy team was a very disappointed man.

“It was about putting away your chances. We got our chances, we didn’t put them away, they got three chances and put them away.”

GraceKennedy will face ATL one more time for the season on Wednesday, in a must win game for a chance to advance to the semi-finals of the league. For ATL the game is of academic interest only.