Almost makes a point with time to spare (6)
I believe the answer is:
nearly
'almost' is the definition.
(I know that almost can be written as nearly)
'a point with time to spare' is the wordplay.
'a point' becomes 'n' (North).
'with time to spare' becomes 'early' (I've seen this in another clue).
'n'+'early'='NEARLY'
'makes' is the link.
(Other definitions for nearly that I've seen before include "Close" , "Not entirely" , "Noon at eleven fifty nine am" , "Almost, not quite" , "Give out a bright light" .)