GIVEN the weight attached to his impending kick, the burden resting on Ross Millen's unassuming young shoulders appeared surprisingly inconsequential to the Dunfermline Athletic full-back.

The 18-year-old stood motionless at the periphery of the penalty box in front of the bustling Norrie McCathie Stand, hands on hips, head bowed, focused – no mean feat given the circus that characterised this Irn-Bru First Division play-off second leg between the Fifers and Forfar Athletic. With seven minutes to go, the defender took seven small steps for man, but one giant leap towards salvaging something tangible from a season riven by angst, heartache and uncertainty, smashing his 83rd-minute penalty kick beyond Darren Hill, forcing this mesmerising contest into extra time. The rest is history.

Perhaps the naivety of Dunfermline's pool of young talent, thrust into a ravaged first team after financial constraints took a grip of the club in March, is paying off. While Millen took the game into extra time against eight-man Forfar, he was just one of the teenagers who battled valiantly on Saturday. Each played their part in this 6-1 triumph, a 7-4 aggregate win, earning them a tie with Alloa Athletic in this week's two-legged final.

"I knew what I had to do, so there was not really any pressure, the gaffer doesn't put pressure on you," said a nonchalant Millen, who had watched Stephen Husband shank a spot kick in the first half with Forfar leading 1-0. "Hubby took the last one and missed it, so I said 'Give me the ball, I'll take this'. Thankfully it went in."

Millen's unflappable nature is a nod to the impact his father Andy is having. His dad – who played for Hamilton Academical, Kilmarnock, Hibernian and St Mirren during his career – clearly has had a calming influence on his son, who, next to under-20 coach John Potter, helped lend an assurance at the back, while providing support down the flanks in a host of cavalry charges forward. "He just keeps on my back all the time," said Millen jnr. "He gives me praise when I need praise, and a boot up the backside when I need it. I owe it all to my mum and dad."

Many trials have befallen this once-great club, but the threat to their first division survival would have seemed inconceivable just two months ago as Jim Jefferies' side sat comfortably in mid-table. Since their 15-point deduction, the Dunfermline manager has witnessed an heroic effort by his young squad, claiming results against Morton and Partick Thistle in a desperate attempt to keep relegation off their ever- growing list of worries.

However, little would have prepared him for the titanic effort his colts turned in on Saturday. After going a goal down and behind 4-1 on aggregate within six minutes, as well as Husband missing from the spot seven minutes later, Jefferies watched his players push Forfar to breaking point as Mark McCulloch, Mick Dunlop and Iain Campbell were all dismissed. The lack of discipline from the Angus men ultimately proved their undoing, as Millen and Co steamrollered over the top of them, claiming three extra-time goals in the most one-sided half-hour of football you're likely to see.

"I've played in an under-20s game when it went to extra time, that was a bit nerve racking, but nothing like that," said the former St Mirren youth, who made his first-team debut in February. "I think we thoroughly deserved it. It gives us a bit of confidence ahead of playing Alloa. It's massive. We need to do as much as we can for the fans. The older players and the gaffer have been excellent. They have given us a freedom to go and play the way we want to.

"The job isn't done, though. We have a massive two games coming up and we need to do better than we did in the first game. We'll come back in on Monday and see what we can do. We've been up against it a lot, but we've just kept our head up. It's not over until the fat lady sings."

If Saturday is anything to go by, the old bird will be waiting a while yet.