Sam Folarin scored a 94th-minute winner to earn Hartlepool a third successive National League win against already relegated Ebbsfleet.
Pools' on-loan West Brom forward Cleary opened the scoring with his fourth goal in five matches in the 29th minute, only for Maxx Manktelow to equalise six minutes into the second half.
Emmanuel Dieseruvwe restored the home side's lead three minutes later with his 14th goal of the campaign, but Fleet levelled again 17 minutes from time through Aaron Cosgrove.
However, Folarin's late breakthrough sealed a third successive win for Pools and ended Fleet's hopes of stretching their unbeaten run to four games.
Match report supplied by PA Media.
