LANCASTER City could be at the centre of another traffic delay probe after Saturday's Giant Axe clash with Stalybridge Celtic didn't start until 3.30pm.

The 30-minute delay to kick-off followed on from City's non-appearance for their game with Runcorn FC Halton earlier this month.

But this time it was visitors Stalybridge who were late after an accident on the M61.

And referee Garry Wallace could also find himself in hot water as he allowed Celtic nearly an hour to prepare for the game after their late arrival instead of sticking to the correct start time.

Wallace, from Houghton-le-Springs, Tyne and Wear, had arranged for the game to kick-off at 3.15pm.

But after a conversation with Stalybridge boss John Reed, he decided to delay the match by another 15 minutes.

Wallace, speaking exclusively to the Citizen after the game, which City lost 1-0, said: "Stalybridge were held up by an accident on the M61 and arrived at the ground at just before 2.40pm.

"I had arranged for the game to start at 3.15pm but the Stalybridge manager told me that his men could not start before 3.30 as they needed a full warm-up.

"So the game started 30 minutes late and I have compiled a report for the Conference."

Those words didn't cut any mustard with City boss Phil Wilson, whose players had been warming up from 2pm and were left kicking their heels before preparing again.

"I always thought that a decision like that was for the referee to make - not for an opposing manager," Wilson says.

When City's players were stuck on the M6 on March 1, the Conference showed little leniency and hit them with a £500 fine and an order to pay Runcorn's costs after they made it to the ground.

The referee for that scheduled game also said that he would insist the match kicked off as soon as the minimum of seven players arrived at the ground.

Stalybridge had five players at Giant Axe from 1.30pm after they travelled independently from the team coach.

A spokesman for the Football Conference told the Citizen that they would not be able to comment until they had received the report from the referee later in the week.