Beaten, as a mat, by a boy (5)

I believe the answer is:

mated

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'beaten as' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both to do with contact as well as being past participle verbs.
Maybe they are linked in a way I don't understand?

'a mat by a boy' is the wordplay.
'by' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'a boy' becomes 'ed' (short for Edward).
'mat'+'ed'='MATED'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for mated that I've seen before include "Defeated in game" , "given match" , "Joined, connected" , "had sex" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.

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