A match once for the Devil (7)
I believe the answer is:
lucifer
I believe this clue is a double definition.
'a match once' is the first definition.
(lucifer is a historical type of match)
'the devil' is the second definition.
(Lucifer is a name for the devil)
'for' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for lucifer that I've seen before include "Light" , "Satan, the Dark Angel" , "from the abyss?" , "once a match for > Dickens" , "flares up when struck" .)