Writer covering match in the shade (3-5)
I believe the answer is:
pea green
'the shade' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'writer covering match' is the wordplay.
'writer' becomes 'pen' (something which writes).
'covering' is an insertion indicator.
'match' becomes 'agree' (as in two tallies agreeing or matching).
'pen' placed around 'agree' is 'PEA-GREEN'.
'in' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for pea green that I've seen before include "Shade of the Owl and the Pussycat's boat" , "Bright vegetable colour" , "The colour of podded vegetables and the Owl and the Pussycat's boat" , "Colour of Owl and Pussycat's boat (Lear)" , "colour of Lear's boat" .)