Telegraph Cryptic Connections Puzzle For This Week

[Matakari]

Many thanks, dannyk13, for the Cryptic Connections Puzzle.
A confirmation for the following would be appreciated, thanks
in advance!

Cryptic Connections
In a Cryptic Connections puzzle, five cryptic crossword clues must be solved; their answers can be made from the list of letters given underneath. Once all the clues have been solved, some letters will be unused; these can be arranged to give a word or phrase that links the answers to the five clues.

1 Cardinal seen in mass ignoring women (5)
2 Range of opinion after the compiler had returned (8) SPECTRUM
3 Boss of farm's second to fill trough (7) MANAGER
4 Damage coach emptied when spring cleaning starts? (5) MARCH
5 Some clear thick soil (5) EARTH

A A A A A C C D D D E E E E E G G H H H I I I L M M M N N R R R S T T T

[Neveracrossword]

4 Yes - Mar, damage and C(oac)H, coach emotied.
5Hidden in the clue
3 Yes, Manger, trough, with the second letter of 'farm' inside.

[Neveracrossword]

1 Eight? Weight, mass, dropping the W, ignoring women.

[Neveracrossword]

There's no P - so you can't have Spectrum!

[bobbinwales]

I agree with EARTH, MANAGER, MARCH and EIGHT (cardinal number) and all the others appart from SPECTRUM- no P or U. I cant get that one- who is the crossword setter if thats relevant?

[Captain2]

1 Di-stance (Compiler had = I'd, reversed)

[Captain2]

Presumably Matakari will be able to work out the 6 letter connecting word now.

[Neveracrossword]

Thanks for the Distance, Captain2.

Yes, I think the six-letter word should be doable...!

[Captain2]

I've said before, I love your comments, NaC. Pity they seem to fall on stony ground most of the time. ;0)))

[Neveracrossword]

Thanks, Captain2. In a bid to encourage Matakari (to finish a crossword), I have tried every tactic under the sun!

[bobbinwales]

Your halfway there now Matakari

[Matakari]

Many thanks, bobbinwales, captain2, NACW, I am certain I’ll have no problem working out the 6-letter linking word. And a special thank you to NACW for the patience which is paying off. I recently solved the Chalicea offering on the CC site without requesting any help and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I learned a few words which I found in Chambers, and also some history. So, all is not lost on me! Thanks again, all! And let’s see how I fare with tomorrow’s Spectator!

[bobbinwales]

Glad I didnt give it away there with my hint. I can only think of 1 word with them remaining 6 letters

[Matakari]

I'm done now, the six-letter connecting word was quite straightforward, indeed! Looking back at your response, I see your hint, bobbinwales, which would have been "halfway" or "central" to my answer had I not been able to work it out by the process of elimination.

[Neveracrossword]

Matakari, thanks. Glad you are making such progress - your previous struggles with Chalicea can recede into the distance now. And maybe you'll make similar progress with the Spectator - if not, you'll make it into the Guinness Book of Records for the longest apprenticeship ever!

[dannyk13]

Well done Matakari and good luck with your entry.