REFEREE Darren Sheldrake admitted it was a difficult decision to call off Scunthorpe United's vital bottom-of-the-table clash with Preston after a second pitch inspection at Glanford Park.

But he was adamant he had reached the right conclusion for what would have been his fourth Championship game of the season.

Over three-quarters of the playing surface were free of frost but Sheldrake was worried about certain sections that were still frozen, particularly in one of the corners at the away end of the ground.

"It was a difficult decision," he confessed.

"I got here at 10.45am when the sun was not out so I could not ascertain how much it was going to get onto the pitch and what difference it was going to make.

"It was wise to have another look later rather than calling it off then.

"Once the sun did come out, it was obvious one area of the pitch was not going to thaw out."

The goalmouth in front of the away stand is always the problem area at Glanford Park, and it cost the Iron their third home postponement of the season – their second against Preston.

Saturday's match was to be the first match Sheldrake, in his second season as a National Group referee, has taken charge of at United's home ground.

The 28-year-old Surrey official looked long and hard before calling the game off, delaying his decision after taking an initial look when he first arrived.

At that time, a third of the pitch was still then protected by frost covers.

It was nearly 90 minutes later, at noon, that Sheldrake finally postponed the game after looking closely at all sections of the pitch.

"The safety of the players has always got to be paramount but you also have to consider the entertainment for paying spectators if players are slipping and sliding about," he added.

"There was one corner of the pitch that in my opinion was definitely not safe.

"Was it a borderline decision? No. It may have been at 10.45am – but looking at it now, I don't think so."