UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                              Washington, DC 20549



                                  SCHEDULE 13G


                   Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

                        (Amendment No.              )*



                        SOUTH BRANCH VALLEY BANCORP, INC.
                                (Name of Issuer)


                                     COMMON
                         ------------------------------
                         (Title of Class of Securities)


                                    836730
                                 --------------       
                                 (CUSIP Number)


Check the following box if a fee is being paid with this  statement  |_|. (A fee
is not required only if the filing person:  (1) has a previous statement on file
reporting  beneficial  ownership  of more  than  five  percent  of the  class of
securities  described  in Item 1;  and (2) has  filed  no  amendment  subsequent
thereto reporting  beneficial  ownership of five percent or less of such class.)
(See Rule 13d-7).

*The  remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting  person's
initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and
for any  subsequent  amendment  containing  information  which  would  alter the
disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

The information required in the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed
to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of
1934 ("Act") or otherwise  subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act
but shall be subject to all over provisions of the Act (however, see the Notes).









CUSIP NO. 836730                      13G                   Page 2 of 4  Pages


1)    Name of Reporting Person            CRITES, JOHN W.
      S.S. Number of Above Person         ###-##-####

2)    Check the appropriate box
      if a member of a group*             A              B   X
                                            --------       -------     

3)    (for SEC use)

4)    Citizenship                         U.S.

Number of Shares Beneficially
Owned by Each Reporting
Person with:

5)    Sole Voting Power                    25,905
6)    Shared Voting Power                    -0-
7)    Sole Dispositive Power               25,905
8)    Shared Dispositive Power               -0-

9)    Aggregate Amount Beneficially
      Owned by Each Reporting Person       25,905

10)   Aggregate amount reported as beneficially owned does not include shares as
      to which beneficial  ownership is disclaimed  pursuant to Rule 13d-4 under
      the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

11)   Percent of Class Represented
      in Amount in Item 9                 6.84

12)   Type of Reporting Person            IN


















CUSIP NO. 836730                      13G                    Page 3 of 4 Pages

                 ATTACHMENT TO SCHEDULE 13G OF JOHN W. CRITES


Item 1.
Issuer:                 SOUTH BRANCH VALLEY BANCORP, INC.

Issuer Address:         310 N. MAIN STREET
                        MOOREFIELD, WV 26836

Item 2.
Name of Person Filing:  JOHN W. CRITES

Residence:              46 POINT DRIVE
                        PETERSBURG, WV 26847

Citizenship:            UNITED STATES

Title of Class:         COMMON

CUSIP number:           N/A

Item 3.
If this statement is filed pursuant to Rule 13d-1(b), or 13d-2(b), check
whether the person filing is a:       N/A  for all

Item 4.
Amount Beneficially Owned:    25,905

Percent of Class:             6.84%

Mr. Crites has sole power to vote or direct the vote, and sole power to
dispose or to direct the disposition of all 25,905 shares.
















CUSIP NO. 836730                      13G                    Page 4 of 4 Pages


                 ATTACHMENT TO SCHEDULE 13G OF JOHN W. CRITES

Item 5.
Ownership of Five Percent
or Less of a Class:     N/A

Item 6.
Ownership of more than Five Percent on Behalf of Another Person.

Allegheny Wood Products, Inc., a corporation principally owned by Mr. Crites,
owns 23,905, or 6.32% of these shares.  Allegheny Wood Products, Inc. has the
right to receive, or the power to direct the receipt of dividends from, or the
proceeds from the sale of, these shares.   Mr. Crites derives his aggregate
beneficial ownership from these shares and the 2,000 shares directly owned by
Mr. Crites.

Item 7.
Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary Which Acquired the
Security Being Reported on by the Parent Holding Company:  N/A

Item 8.
Identification and Classification of Members of the Group:    N/A

Item 9.
Notice of Dissolution of Group:  N/A

Item 10.
CertificatioBy  signing  below I certify  that,  to the best of my knowledge and
belief, the securities referred to above were acquired in the ordinary course of
business  and were not acquired for the purpose of and do not have the effect of
changing or  influencing  the control of the issuer of such  securities and were
not acquired in connection  with or as a participant in any  transaction  having
such purposes or effect.


                                    SIGNATURE

After  reasonable  inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify
that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.


                              Date:         February 5, 1997
                              -------------------------------------------


                              Signature:     /s/ John W. Crites, Director
                              -------------------------------------------









By his signature on form 13G, Mr. Crites adopts the  certification  set forth in
Item 10.



                              Date:     February 5, 1997
                              ----------------------------------


                              Signature:     /s/ John W. Crites, Director
                              -------------------------------------------


                              Name & Title:   John W. Crites, Director
                              -----------------------------------------