Crossword Genius

Cheer side short of team member after try (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

hearten

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'cheer side' is the definition.
'hearten' can be an answer for 'cheer' (synonyms). I am not certain of the 'side' bit.

'short of team member after try' is the wordplay.
'short of team member' becomes 'ten' (I can't explain this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'after' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'try' becomes 'hear' (as in to try someone in court or hear their case).
'ten' after 'hear' is 'HEARTEN'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for hearten that I've seen before include "Make cheerful" , "Encourage or cheer in cardiac manner" , "Buoy" , "Inspirit" , "Inspire anew" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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