His latest goal inspired a late comeback that saw Cardiff Met knock out the holders from the JD Welsh Cup and move the Archers into the last 16 on the back of a 2-1 victory in Cyncoed that proved lightning can strike twice.
Two weeks earlier TNS had headed south and were beaten 3-2 in the JD Cymru Premier, with Payne scoring the opener on that occasion, and their latest led to their earliest exit from the Welsh Cup since they were beaten in the second round in 2007.
“I’ve got a good record against TNS with three goals in four games against them and I’m just loving playing a getting goals at the moment,” said Payne.
“It was a good feeling to score, and we all felt the momentum shifting our way in the second half.
“We weren’t going to settle for penalties and we wanted to push on for the winner.”
Craig Harrison’s men got off to a positive enough start with a 28th minute goal from Jack Bodenham that gave them a 1-0 interval lead.
That looked like being enough to take them through until the last five minutes when Payne struck to level and then Matthew Chubb became the hero with his added time winner.
“We didn’t defend our box well enough, and people didn’t do their specific jobs. It was very disappointing,” said TNS boss, Harrison.
“We were sloppy in the last 10 minutes. Maybe we thought we were through.”
With only six JD Cymru Premier teams going into the hat for Round 4 this week – Barry Town United, Caernarfon, Cardiff Met, Colwyn Bay, Flint Town United and Penybont – there maybe a chance of some of the Tier 2 teams to push through.
One of those could be unbeaten Llandudno.
They beat last season’s finalists, and the 2024 champions, Connah’s Quay Nomads, 2-1 to underline why they are top of JD Cymru North.
The visitors never really recovered from conceding two first half goals to Ben Maher, one of their former players, and Ross Weaver.
Llandudno were full value for their lead and managed to keep their higher ranked visitors out until the 81st minute, when Dan Roberts got a goal back.
That led to a frantic ending, but Llandudno took the scalp and move on to the next round.
They face two huge games in the coming weeks with a top fo the table league clash at Holywell Town this weekend and then a Nathaniel MG Cup semi-final appointment with holder TNS.
Barry Town United hit Llanelli Town for six as they eased their way into the hat. Their 6-0 win featured a penalty and a goal from Ollie Hulbert and four other scorers.
Flint Town United survived an onslaught from JD North outfit Airbus UK Broughton as they had a goal from Ben Wynne to thank for their 1-0 victory, but there was no escape for Holywell Town as they were beaten 2-1 by a team from a tier below them.
Bangor 1876 ran out 2-1 winners despite conceding in the fifth minute to Fabrizio Murtas.
If that was a great start for the Wellmen, losing Guto Williams to a red card three minutes later.
To make matters worse, Jamie Breese then missed a penalty in the 12th minute. Corrig McGonigle then levelled in the 71st minute before Josh Carry struck the winner in the 71st.
Port Talbot’s great run came to an end as they were beaten 3-2 at Porthmadog.
Twice they led before Liam Morris scored twice in the final 10 minutes for the home side to earn them the ticket into the next round.
JD South leaders Cambrian United went down 3-1 at home against Penybont, for who James Crole bagged a hat-trick that included two penalties.
Glynneath Town’s cup dreams are also over as they were beaten 5-2 at home by Treaddur Bay.
The fifth-tier side at least scored the first goal through Harri Williams-Young but then saw Tom Hilditch score a hat-trick for the visitors.
Pontypridd won 4-3 on penalties after drawing 1-1 at Treowen Stars.
Caernarfon Town had no problem getting past Penrhyncoch as they ran out 4-0 winners at home. Josh Lock helped himself to a hat-trick and Dominic Smith grabbed the other.
Haci Ozlu was Gresford Athletic’s hero as he scored twice, once from the penalty spot, in a 3-0 win at Penrhiwceiber Rangers. The other goal for the visitors came from Adam Hesp.
Jack Pewtner scored twice for Cwmbran Town at Rhyl 1879 but his goals weren’t enough to win the game.
The home side went 2-0 up in the first half with goals from Ben Lightfoot and Jack Parry before Archie Jones round it off with a third to complete a 3-2 triumph.
Caerau Ely showed no signs of rustiness in their first game since 7 November as they powered to a 2-0 win at Dollgellau AA.
Two goals in eight minutes in the first half from Hywel Davis and Dan Griffiths sealed the deal for the JD Cymru South side against their Tier 3 hosts.
