Go after his head this time; started action and tried! (3,1,2)
I believe the answer is:
had a go
'tried' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'go after his head this time started action' is the wordplay.
'after' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'head' indicates taking the first letters.
'this time' becomes 'ad' (AD, Anno Domini, as opposed to BC, Before Christ).
'started' indicates taking the first letters.
The first letter of 'his' is 'h'.
The initial letter of 'action' is 'a'.
'h'+'ad'+'a'='hada'
'go' after 'hada' is 'HAD A GO'.
'and' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for had a go that I've seen before include "Tried" , "Made an attempt" .)