Ref not quite in time for match (5)
I believe the answer is:
agree
'for match' is the definition.
(as in two tallies agreeing or matching)
'ref not quite in time' is the wordplay.
'not quite' means to remove the last letter (most but not all of the word).
'in' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'time' becomes 'age' (an age is a period of time).
'ref' with its last letter taken away is 're'.
're' placed within 'age' is 'AGREE'.
(Other definitions for agree that I've seen before include "Give consent" , "Square" , "Match; tally" , "Enjoy view in common" , "Allow" .)