Crossword Genius

Time to join friend for match (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

tally

'match' is the definition.
('tally' can be a synonym of 'match')

'time to join friend' is the wordplay.
'time' becomes 't'.
'to join' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'friend' becomes 'ally' (I've seen this before).
't'+'ally'='TALLY'

'for' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for tally that I've seen before include "Count up; match" , "Record; current score" , "highly?" , "Reckoning of a debt or of votes" , "Reckon up" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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