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The visitors took home the points with a solitary second half goal in a game of few highlights, although only another fine display by Leafe keeper Rob O'Hara prevented a wider margin.
The hosts started with a surprise new strike duo, Leon McDowall, who enjoyed an excellent earlier spell at Church Road two years ago, cut short by a serious knee injury, whilst the experienced Richard Dimmock returned following a brief stay as a Leafe player last term.
In a dour first half, Fleet started the brightest, striker Lee Riddell sending a header narrowly over O'Hara's bar in the 10th minute. On 22 minutes Sam Butler burst into the Fleet area but fired wide of the post. Riddell hit a similar shot at the other end shortly after, both keepers mere spectators as the game bogged down in midfield.
O'Hara made the first save on 34 minutes diving low to push away a Paul Harkness strike whilst just before the break Lee Sidwell was well placed to test Fleet keeper David Smalley, but mis-hit his shot well wide of the goal.
Immediately after the break Darren Wheeler curled a free-kick around the Whyteleafe wall from 25 yards, well caught by O'Hara as it headed for the top corner and minutes later at the other end a Butler free-kick was headed across the area by Dimmock, where a goal-bound effort may well have reaped dividends. Dimmock did better three minutes after, cushioning the ball with his head, turning a defender and firing only narrowly wide.
Just before the hour O'Hara pulled off a brilliant save, reacting instantly to a fierce Wheeler strike from close range; however in the 61st minute the deadlock was broken when Wheeler sprinted the lengthy of the pitch, crossed the ball from the right and saw Mark Anderson hit an acrobatic shot past the despairing O'Hara.
Smart nearly doubled the score within minutes, shooting wide when well placed after bursting through an increasingly shaky Leafe defence. McDowall and Dimmock toiled hard up front but with no reward, the latter meeting a Butler cross with his head in the 81st minute, but sadly unable to direct the ball under the crossbar.
With five minutes remaining O'Hara again made a great save, pushing a Smart strike over his bar in spectacular fashion. The lively Butler did get a shot on target at the death, but the alert Smalley dived low to his left to gather when under pressure in a crowded box.
A third successive defeat for Whyteleafe has seen the early promise of the new season evaporate and manager Stuart Massey will be seeking the formula to return his team to goal scoring ways soon.
Whyteleafe: O'Hara, Goodchild, Bremner (Miller 64), Coleman R, Fleming, Sidwell, Coleman D, Hammond (Sub Wilson 36), McDowall (Sub Ikolodo 80), Dimmock, Butler. Subs not used: Banks, Wardell.