Former joiner McCaldon is Livingston's unlikely hero after penalty save Keeper grabs his full-time chance

candidate to help turn Livingston manager Ray Stewart's dreams of success into a reality.

However, amid all the high-

profile signings brought into the new town club, it is goalkeeper Ian McCaldon, an ever-present last season, who still retains one of the most important roles.

McCaldon saved Livingston from defeat within regulation time with an excellent penalty save from Marc Millar, who until Saturday had scored 17 out of 17 spot-kicks.

His save came on the 75 minute mark after defender Neil Bennett had handled on the line. Referee Kenny Clark sent off the defender and, after that, you would think the fitness and experience of the Fife team would win the day.

However, they did not count on the aptitude of two men at different stages of their career.

Although it was former Hearts striker John Robertson, now in his nineteenth year as a professional, who sealed the game with a goal in the first period of extra time, it was McCaldon who helped the Livingston defence weather the subsequent storm.

With their purpose-built stadium and the high amount of cash being pumped into the club by owner Dominic Keane, it is easy to forget that Livingston are still in the

second division, although they

did not play like it on Saturday.

In McCaldon they have a 6ft 5in goalkeeper they picked up from Midlothian side Easthouses Under-21 and who had never played in the Scottish league until last season.

The harsh reality of life in the second division, even after a

magnificent league cup victory over Premier League opposition, was shown in the corridors of Almondvale after the match when McCaldon had to wash his goalkeeping gloves before he came to talk of his performance.

His career so far is a lesson to all youngsters who do not think they can make a go of it in football. After playing for Whitehill

Welfare's Under-18 team, he packed in the game after admittedly ''going off the rails a bit'' before returning to Easthouses, then to Livingston, where he played 42 games as a part-timer last season.

He decided to pack in his job as a joiner with Edinburgh Council during the close season and now trains full-time under the watchful eye of the former Celtic and Hibs goalkeeper Roy Baines.

''I thought you only get one chance of becoming a full-time footballer and I've decided to go for it,'' said McCaldon, 23, who was born in Liverpool and now lives in Prestonpans.

''Last season I played every game, but because I was part-time only trained in the evening away from the full-time players. This season I get specialised coaching from Roy Baines and I've come on a lot because of it.

''As for the penalty save on

Saturday, John Robertson and Frank Conway told me he would hit it low to my left and obviously they were right.

''I certainly won't regret turning professional and I am determined to keep my place and help us to promotion.''

Baines said he would be sitting down with McCaldon today to analyse his performance. The goalkeeping coach said: ''That was one of his best and I will be telling him he has set himself a high standard that he will have to retain for the rest of the season.''

Not surprisingly, Livingston manager Ray Stewart was in upbeat mood as he talked of his side's performance. He said he felt his team deserved the victory and had not been outplayed even when they were reduced to 10 men.

Although his assessment is

correct, there has to be serious questions asked in the Dunfermline camp as to why they did not put Livingston under more pressure, particularly after the home side had a man sent off.

Although they hit the bar three times, twice by Richard Huxford, once by Scott McCulloch, they never looked creative enough to break down the Livingston defence.

Andy Smith looked sharp up front, but simply knocking long balls in the air up to him never looked like causing problems and he seemed to miss the space created round him at the end of last season by Gerry Britton, who missed the game through injury.

In midfield, Derek Ferguson did not push forward enough and seemed content to sit back and play the easy ball. His former Rangers colleague, Ian Durrant, has a similar role at Kilmarnock, but Durrant has a more creative midfield to work in.

Overall, Livingston battled well and, in David Bingham and John Robertson, had two men who managed to use their experience to kill the game after the former Hearts man had put them ahead three

minutes into the first period of extra time, when he got onto the end of a low cross in the six-yard area.

Marc Millar, who missed the penalty for Dunfermline, said that his club's next match against Dundee, who have also got off to a terrible start, was now vital.

''After losing 5-0 to Celtic in our first game, we did not want to lose to anyone in our next game, especially a team from division two,'' said Millar.

''We have to bounce back next week against Dundee and it is crucial we beat them.''