A match earlier (3)
I believe the answer is:
ago
'earlier' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'a match' is the wordplay.
'match' becomes 'go' (I've seen this in other clues).
'a'+'go'='AGO'
(Other definitions for ago that I've seen before include "Previously" , "In past times" , "Earlier, gone by" , "(Years) before the present time" , "Back (in time)" .)