Shot a duck, making a sticky mess (3)
I believe the answer is:
goo
'a sticky mess' is the definition.
(thesaurus)
'shot a duck' is the wordplay.
'shot' becomes 'go' (both can mean an attempt).
'a duck' becomes 'o' (resembles zero - 'duck' in cricket).
'go'+'o'='GOO'
'making' is the link.
(Other definitions for goo that I've seen before include "Sticky and slimy stuff" , "Sticky or slimy substance" , "Sentimentality (sl.)" , "Sticky wet material or sickly sentiment" , "Sticky matter" .)