REFEREE Rob Shoebridge was not prepared to take a chance on the frozen Home Park pitch thawing out by three o'clock.

The overnight temperature in Plymouth had plunged to minus four degrees centigrade, much lower than expected.

And, although it did warm up during Saturday, as had been forecast, Shoebridge was wary of leaving his decision too late.

He came in for criticism for postponing a League Two game between Darlington and Chester City in December 2007 too late.

It was only 80 minutes before kick-off when Shoebridge called off the match after a third pitch inspection.

Former Pilgrims' boss Bobby Williamson, who was the Chester manager at the time, was far from impressed.

So that was probably on Shoebridge's mind when he carried out his 8.15am pitch inspection at Home Park on Saturday.

He said: "There is always a school of thought of whether you can leave a decision a bit later, but it doesn't always pay to leave it.

"I left it at a game last season and the anticipated weather forecast didn't prevail."

Shoebridge was already on stand-by to carry out a pitch inspection on Saturday when he was contacted by Argyle early in the morning.

He was shown around by head groundsman Colin Wheatcroft and chief executive Michael Dunford.

Shoebridge said: "For me, it was a case of going on the field and liaising with Colin, who knows this pitch a lot better than I do.

"I listened to what he had got to tell me and looked at the anticipated weather forecast.

"It should be noted the forecasters have been wrong for the majority of the week, which hasn't helped us," he continued.

"I think they forecast rain for today, which probably would have helped.

"But, even if that had happened, it still wasn't certain to get the frost out of the ground."

Shoebridge is in his third season on the Football League list of referees.

His only previous visit to Home Park was for Argyle's 1-0 win against Crystal Palace in October 2007.