The Saddlers suffered defeat on the final day of the season as three first half goals from visitors Swindon Town were enough to give them all three points.
Swindon took the lead early on in front of a crowd of just over 9,000 at the Banks’s Stadium when Harry McKirdy capitalised on a loose ball just inside the area before composing himself to fire into the top corner of Carl Rushworth’s net.
Exactly 10 minutes after Swindon took the lead, the Saddlers went close to an equaliser as Brendan Kiernan found himself a yard of space inside the area but unfortunately for him, he dragged his effort wide and it could only find the side netting.
Shortly after Kiernan’s chance for the Saddlers, the visitors extended their lead as Payne was allowed far too much space inside the Walsall half and he powered forward into the space and fired one into the top right corner from 25-yards out.
On the stroke of half time, the visitors had the chance to add to their lead when McKirdy was hacked down inside the area by Donervon Daniels. Up stepped Payne to tuck home his second of the game from just 12-yards out.
Into the second half and it was the Saddlers who had the better of the chances as Emmanuel Osadebe curled a free-kick just wide and Kiernan hit the underside of the bar but with time ticking away, the Saddlers were unable to find a way back into the game as Swindon confirmed their spot in the League Two play-offs.